Abstract

The introduction of women into U.S. military ground close combat roles requires research into sex-specific effects of military training and operational activities. Knee osteoarthritis is prevalent among military service members; its progression has been linked to occupational tasks such as load carriage. Analyzing tibiofemoral arthrokinematics during load carriage is important to understand potentially injurious motion and osteoarthritis progression. The study purpose was to identify effects of load carriage on knee arthrokinematics during walking and running in recruit-aged women. Twelve healthy recruit-aged women walked and ran while unloaded (bodyweight [BW]) and carrying additional + 25%BW and + 45%BW. Using dynamic biplane radiography and subject-specific bone models, tibiofemoral arthrokinematics, subchondral joint space and center of closest contact location between subchondral bone surfaces were analyzed over 0–30% stance (separate one-way repeated measures analysis of variance, load by locomotion). While walking, medial compartment contact location was 5% (~ 1.6 mm) more medial for BW than + 45%BW at foot strike (p = 0.03). While running, medial compartment contact location was 4% (~ 1.3 mm) more lateral during BW than + 25%BW at 30% stance (p = 0.04). Internal rotation was greater at + 45%BW compared to + 25%BW (p < 0.01) at 30% stance. Carried load affects tibiofemoral arthrokinematics in recruit-aged women. Prolonged load carriage could increase the risk of degenerative joint injury in physically active women.

Details

Title
Load carriage changes tibiofemoral arthrokinematics during ambulatory tasks in recruit-aged women
Author
Johnson, Camille C. 1 ; Dzewaltowski, Alex C. 2 ; Dever, Dennis E. 3 ; Krajewski, Kellen T. 3 ; Rai, Ajinkya 4 ; Ahamed, Nizam U. 3 ; Allison, Katelyn F. 3 ; Flanagan, Shawn D. 2 ; Graham, Scott M. 5 ; Lovalekar, Mita 3 ; Anderst, William J. 4 ; Connaboy, Chris 2 

 University of Pittsburgh, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Pittsburgh, USA (GRID:grid.21925.3d) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9000); University of Pittsburgh, Orthopaedic Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pittsburgh, USA (GRID:grid.21925.3d) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9000) 
 Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, Center of Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research, Chicago, USA (GRID:grid.262641.5) (ISNI:0000 0004 0388 7807) 
 University of Pittsburgh, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Pittsburgh, USA (GRID:grid.21925.3d) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9000) 
 University of Pittsburgh, Orthopaedic Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pittsburgh, USA (GRID:grid.21925.3d) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9000) 
 Edinburgh Napier University, School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh, UK (GRID:grid.20409.3f) (ISNI:0000 0001 2348 339X) 
Pages
9542
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3046139310
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.