Recovery in functional non-copers following anterior cruciate ligament rupture as detected by gait kinematics

Objectives: To evaluate if gait compensation strategies for selected kinematic variables can be identified in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient non-copers using two-dimensional (2D) clinical gait analysis. Design: Prospective observational design, repeated measures. Setting: University hospital, out-patients department. Patients: Sixty-three patients that attended the acute knee screening service were diagnosed with an acute ACL rupture and consented to participate. A sub-set of 15 copers/adapters and 13 non-copers were eligible for final analysis because they were contactable for sub-classification and had gait analysis at 1 and 4 months post-injury. Main outcome measures: 2D video gait analysis for sagittal plane hip, knee and ankle kinematics and time-distance variables. Results: At 4 months post-injury non-copers demonstrated significantly less recovery of knee angle (F((1,1)) = 5.79, p < 0.024), hip displacement angle (F((1,1)) = 4.89, p < 0.036), step length (F((1,1)) = 6.80, p = 0.015), cadence (F((1,1)) = 5.85, p = 0.023) and velocity (F((1,1)) = 10.89, p = 0.003), compared to copers/adapters. Also non-copers demonstrated altered correlations between gait parameters. Conclusion: At 4 months post-injury non-copers had an inferior gait performance compared to copers/adapters for kinematics and time-distance variables. 2D clinical kinematic gait analysis, particularly of the hip and knee can inform early rehabilitation techniques and monitor recovery. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.