title: Knee Kinematics and Joint Moments During Stair Negotiation in Participants With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency and Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: Biomechanical changes have been reported for patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency (ACLD) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL reconstruction) (ACLR), likely due to loss of stability and changes in proprioception and neuromotor control. This review evaluated kinematics and kinetics of ACLD and ACLR knees, compared with those on the contralateral uninjured sides, as well as and those in asymptomatic controls during stair navigation.
  
  
  
  This is a systematic review and meta-analysis.
  
  
  
  Electronic database searches were conducted from their original available dates to January 2015. Studies that included participants with ACLD or ACLR and reported knee joint angles or moments during stair ascent or descent were included.
  
  
  
  Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, and the methodological quality of these was assessed with a modified Downs and Black checklist. Effect sizes for differences between injured leg and uninjured contralateral leg or controls were calculated, and meta-analyses were performed if two or more studies considered the same variable.
  
  
  
  Quality assessment showed an average (± standard deviation) of 70.3% ± 7.2%. Meta-analysis showed less knee flexion at initial contact for ACLR knees compared with that in contralateral knees during stair ascent, with a moderate effect size and minimal heterogeneity. Knees with ACLD showed less peak knee flexion compared with that on contralateral sides during stair ascent, with minimal heterogeneity. External knee flexion moments were lower for ACLR compared with those in controls and contralateral sides during ascent and descent, whereas these moments were decreased for the ACLD compared with controls only during ascent. Meta-analysis results exhibited moderate/high heterogeneity or small/trivial effect sizes.
  
  
  
  Differences for kinematics and kinetics for the ACL-injured knees indicate long-term compensatory and asymmetric movement patterns while ascending and descending stairs. Due to the heterogeneity as well as the small numbers of available studies, the consequences of these differences in terms of long-term function or posttraumatic osteoarthritis need further exploration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran(∗).
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajizadeh
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, P.O. Box 51335 1996, Sahand New Town, Tabriz, Iran(†). Electronic address: ali.hashemi@sut.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hashemi Oskouei
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran(‡).
authors.forename: Farzan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghalichi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, New Zealand(§).
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sole
mesh_terms: D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D017008:Negotiating