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The effect of asymmetrical gait induced by unilateral knee brace on the knee flexor and extensor muscles

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Abstract

Asymmetrical stiff knee gait is a mechanical pathology that can disrupt lower extremity muscle coordination. A better understanding of this condition can help identify potential complications. This study proposes the use of dynamic musculoskeletal modelling simulation to investigate the effect of induced mechanical perturbation on the kneeand to examine the muscle behaviour without invasive technique. Thirty-eight healthy participants were recruited. Asymmetrical gait was simulated using knee brace. Knee joint angle, joint moment and knee flexor and extensor muscle forces were computed using OpenSim. Differences inmuscle force between normal and abnormal conditions were investigated using ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test.The results revealed that braced knee experienced limited range of motion with smaller flexion moment occuring at late swing phase. Significant differences were found in all flexormuscle forces and in several extensor muscle forces (p<0.05). Normal knee produced larger flexor muscle force than braced knee. Braced knee generated the largest extensor muscle force at early swing phase. In summary, musculoskeletal modelling simulation can be a computational tool to map and detect the differences between normal and asymmetrical gaits.

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Abbreviations

SKG:

Stiff knee gait

VL:

Vastus lateralis

VI:

Vastus intermedius

VM:

Vastus medialis

RF:

Rectus femoris

sEMG:

Surface electromyography

ACL:

Anterior cruciate ligament

CMC:

Computed muscle control

BFSH:

Short head of biceps femoris

BFLH:

Long head of biceps femoris

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

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Funding

This research is supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia (Project Ref. No. FRGS/1/2016/TK03/MUSM/02/1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Yap Yi Ting, Darwin Gouwanda & Alpha A. Gopalai

  2. Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Chong Yu Zheng

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  1. Yap Yi Ting
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  2. Darwin Gouwanda
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  4. Chong Yu Zheng
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Contributions

YYT (first author) and DG conceived and designed the experiment. YYT (first author), DG and AAG conducted experiments. CYZ provided support throughout the experiment. YYT and DG analysed data. YYT and DG wrote the manuscript. AAG and CYZ provided additional ideas and feedback during the writing of the manuscript. All authors read and edited the manuscript. DG, AAG and CYZ approved the final version of manuscript for submission and publication.

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Correspondence to Yap Yi Ting.

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Yap, Y., Gouwanda, D., Gopalai, A.A. et al. The effect of asymmetrical gait induced by unilateral knee brace on the knee flexor and extensor muscles. Med Biol Eng Comput 59, 711–720 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-021-02337-7

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