title: Recovery in functional non-copers following anterior cruciate ligament rupture as detected by gait kinematics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational design, repeated measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, out-patients department.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Healthcare Studies, Cardiff University, Ty Dewi Sant, Cardiff CF144XN, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Button
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Deursen
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012421:Rupture / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014743:Videotape Recording; D055815:Young Adult