The Open Sports Medicine Journal

2008, 2 : 28-33
Published online 2008. DOI: 10.2174/1874387000802010028
Publisher ID: TOSMJ-2-28

Quantitative Analysis of Rotational Movements of Knee in Healthy Subjects During Treadmill Barefoot Walking

Nicola Lovecchio , Domenico Galante , Michela Turci , Chiarella Sforza and Virgilio F. Ferrario
Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana, via Mangiagalli 31, I-20133 Milano, Italy.

ABSTRACT

Background and Purpose:

Cinematic analyses of human walking are widely carried out, but the assessment of sex-related differences is still incomplete. Knee range of motion was investigated in healthy sedentary subjects during standardized speed treadmill walking.

Subjects and Methods:

One hundred and three subjects aged 20-79 years were filmed by an optoelectronic system. Threedimensional knee joint angular data were obtained from trajectories of markers using Euler operators.

Results:

On average, within sex, flexion-extension and internal-external rotation were symmetric (Watson-Williams' test, p > 0.05). During walking, women had a larger knee flexion-extension (mean 67.5°, SD 0.8°) than men (mean 64.8°, SD 0.8°, p < 0.05), but similar internal-external rotation (women, 22.6°, SD 0.6°; men, 21.2°, SD 0.5°). No significant correlations between movements and age or anthropometric characteristics were found.

Conclusions:

In healthy sedentary adults, treadmill walking is performed with knee range of motion that is largely independent from age, sex or anthropometry.

Keywords:

Movement analysis, cinematics, knee.