Healthy patellofemoral kinematics and contact forces during functional activities

Abstract

A better understanding of normal knee function is critical to the treatment of knee disorders. Limited data are available on knee biomechanics during functional activities such as walking, particularly in relation to the articulation of the patella. Three aims were formulated to address this gap in knowledge: 1) analyse the kinematics of the patellofemoral joint during functional activities, 2) determine the region of cartilage contact in the patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joints and their relationship to cartilage thickness, and 3) calculate the distribution of medial-lateral contact loads in the patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joints during level walking. These aims were achieved by firs..