Evaluation of gait kinematics and symmetry during the first two stages of physiotherapy after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (original) (raw)

One of the primary goals of physiotherapy after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is to restore of the patient's normal gait patterns. However, to date, only a limited number of studies have examined gait during physiotherapeutic procedures following ACL reconstruction. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate gait kinematics and symmetry in male patients after ACL reconstruction during the first two stages of their physiotherapy programme. Ninety-seven males, including 53 patients after primary ACL reconstruction in one limb and 44 healthy controls, participated in the study. The patients were examined using a movement analysis system during their physiotherapeutic programme (from the 2nd to the 12th week following reconstruction). Some selected parameters of gait kinematics, a dynamic range of movement in the knee joint and gait asymmetry coefficients were evaluated. During the 12th week of physiotherapy, a mean gait velocity increased by more tha...