title: Joint Kinetics and Kinematics During Common Lower Limb Rehabilitation Exercises.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unilateral body-weight exercises are commonly used to strengthen the lower limbs during rehabilitation after injury, but data comparing the loading of the limbs during these tasks are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare joint kinetics and kinematics during 3 commonly used rehabilitation exercises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 9 men (age = 22.1 ± 1.3 years, height = 1.76 ± 0.08 m, mass = 80.1 ± 12.2 kg) participated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants performed the single-legged squat, forward lunge, and reverse lunge with kinetic data captured via 2 force plates and 3-dimensional kinematic data collected using a motion-capture system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peak ground reaction forces, maximum joint angles, and peak sagittal-joint moments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed greater eccentric and concentric peak vertical ground reaction forces during the single-legged squat than during both lunge variations (P ≤ .001). Both lunge variations demonstrated greater knee and hip angles than did the single-legged squat (P < .001), but we observed no differences between lunges (P > .05). Greater dorsiflexion occurred during the single-legged squat than during both lunge variations (P < .05), but we noted no differences between lunge variations (P = .70). Hip-joint moments were greater during the forward lunge than during the reverse lunge (P = .003) and the single-legged squat (P = .011). Knee-joint moments were greater in the single-legged squat than in the reverse lunge (P < .001) but not greater in the single-legged squat than in the forward lunge (P = .41). Ankle-joint moments were greater during the single-legged squat than during the forward lunge (P = .002) and reverse lunge (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate loading progressions for the hip should begin with the single-legged squat and progress to the reverse lunge and then the forward lunge. In contrast, loading progressions for the knee and ankle should begin with the reverse lunge and progress to the forward lunge and then the single-legged squat.
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Sport, Exercise and Physiotherapy, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Comfort
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Sport, Exercise and Physiotherapy, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul Anthony
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Sport, Exercise and Physiotherapy, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Laura Constance
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Sport, Exercise and Physiotherapy, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herrington
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: joint moment; loading; lunge; peak force; single-legged squat