Effect of Alpine Ski Boot Cuff Release on Knee Joint Force During the Backward Fall

Objective: Off-loader knee braces have traditionally focused on redistributing loads away from either the medial or lateral tibiofemoral (TF) compartments. In this article, we study the potential of a novel “tricompartment unloader” (TCU) knee brace intended to simultaneously unload both the patellofemoral (PF) and TF joints during knee flexion. Three different models of the TCU brace are evaluated for their potential to unload the knee joint.Methods: A sagittal plane model of the knee was used to compute PF and TF contact forces, patellar and quadriceps tendon forces, and forces in the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments during a deep knee bend (DKB) test using motion analysis data from eight participants. Forces were computed for the observed (no brace) and simulated braced conditions. A sensitivity and validity analysis was conducted to determine the valid output range for the model, and Statistical Parameter Mapping was used to quantify the effectual region of the different TCU brace models.Results: PF and TF joint force calculations were valid between ~0 and 100 degrees of flexion. All three simulated brace models significantly (p < 0.001) reduced predicted knee joint loads (by 30–50%) across all structures, at knee flexion angles >~30 degrees during DKB.Conclusions: The TCU brace is predicted to reduce PF and TF knee joint contact loads during weight-bearing activity requiring knee flexion angles between 30 and 100 degrees; this effect may be clinically beneficial for pain reduction or rehabilitation from common knee injuries or joint disorders. Future work is needed to assess the range of possible clinical and prophylactic benefits of the TCU brace.

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309 Calculation of the Knee Joint Force during Deep Knee Flexion

The Proceedings of Conference of Kyushu Branch ◽

10.1299/jsmekyushu.2014.67._309-1_ ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014.67 (0) ◽

pp. _309-1_-_309-2_

Author(s):

Kenji KOGUCHI ◽

Michihiko FUKUNAGA

Keyword(s):

Knee Joint ◽

Knee Flexion ◽

Joint Force

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4H4 Estimation of the Knee Joint Force Considering the Moment Arm Length of the Muscles

The Proceedings of Conference of Kyushu Branch ◽

10.1299/jsmekyushu.2013.267 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 (0) ◽

pp. 267-268 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kenji KOGUCHI ◽

Michihiko FUKUNAGA

Keyword(s):

Knee Joint ◽

Moment Arm ◽

Joint Force ◽

The Moment

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4F3 Comparative study of Estimated and in-vivo Measured Knee Joint Force during Daily Life

The Proceedings of Conference of Kyushu Branch ◽

10.1299/jsmekyushu.2014._4f3-1_ ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 (0) ◽

pp. _4F3-1_-_4F3-2_

Author(s):

Kenji KOGUCHI ◽

Michihiko FUKUNAGA ◽

Genji HOTTA

Keyword(s):

Knee Joint ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Daily Life ◽

Joint Force

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Application of Computational Lower Extremity Model to Investigate Different Muscle Activities and Joint Force Patterns in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients during Walking

Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine ◽

10.1155/2013/314280 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Kyung Wook Nha ◽

Ariunzaya Dorj ◽

Jun Feng ◽

Jun Ho Shin ◽

Jong In Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Knee Joint ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Contact Forces ◽

Flexor Muscle ◽

Inverse Dynamic ◽

Joint Force ◽

Joint Contact ◽

Muscle Activations

Many experimental and computational studies have reported that osteoarthritis in the knee joint affects knee biomechanics, including joint kinematics, joint contact forces, and muscle activities, due to functional restriction and disability. In this study, differences in muscle activities and joint force patterns between knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients and normal subjects during walking were investigated using the inverse dynamic analysis with a lower extremity musculoskeletal model. Extensor/flexor muscle activations and torque ratios and the joint contact forces were compared between the OA and normal groups. The OA patients had higher extensor muscle forces and lateral component of the knee joint force than normal subjects as well as force and torque ratios of extensor and flexor muscles, while the other parameters had little differences. The results explained that OA patients increased the level of antagonistic cocontraction and the adduction moment on the knee joint. The presented findings and technologies provide insight into biomechanical changes in OA patients and can also be used to evaluate the postoperative functional outcomes of the OA treatments.

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