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Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2684-9435
Review

Kinetic and Kinematic Assessment of Functional Tasks 1 Year after a Knee Injury—A Systematic Review

Marina DeVecchis
1   Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation, DMRC Stanford Hall, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN159061)
,
Charlotte Reed
2   Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN1555)
,
Peter Ladlow
1   Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation, DMRC Stanford Hall, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN159061)
2   Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN1555)
,
Fearghal P. Behan
3   Disciple of Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN8809)
,
Gordon McKay
4   Regional Rehabilitation Unit (Scotland), Defence Medical Services, Edinburgh, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN62712)
,
Vanessa Bell
5   DMS Whittington, Defence Medical Library Service, Lichfield, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN60597)
,
Oliver O'Sullivan 
1   Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation, DMRC Stanford Hall, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN159061)
6   Academic Unit of Injury, Recovery and Inflammation Sciences, University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nottingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN12207)
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Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, multi-factorial and -aetiological condition, causing pain, disability and reduced function. Post-traumatic OA (PTOA) is more common in younger populations, especially after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or meniscal injury. Identifying those at increased risk of PTOA using molecular, imaging and biomechanical biomarkers is a research priority. This systematic review aims to identify functional tasks used to assess knee kinematics and kinetics at least a year from injury, describe any differences found between the injured and uninjured contralateral and control knees and identify associations with PTOA. Searches were performed on Medline, CINAHL and EMBASE, with reference lists reviewed. The initial search yielded 2504 studies, with six more detected from reference lists. Thirty-three studies involving 1251 participants (n=737 injured, all ACL, mean age 25.1, 49.9% male, 1–13 yr post-injury) were included. Studies included the following dynamic tasks: landing (n=25), jumping (n=3), cutting (n=5) or squatting (n=3). Overall, reductions in knee flexion and extension angles and moments, increased knee valgus and energy absorption were demonstrated in injured knees. However, this was inconsistent across studies, with data heterogeneity preventing direct comparison and meta-analysis. Changes in biomechanics are present from 1-year post-injury, persisting for several years; however, consensus regarding core outcome sets is required.

Keywords

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis - Kinetics - Kinematics - Biomechanics - PTOA

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 08 November 2024

Accepted after revision: 15 August 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
18 August 2025

Article published online:
18 September 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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