Impact of Quadriceps and Hip Abductor Strengthening on Knee Joint Biomechanics During Gait After Schatzker Type III Tibial Plateau Fracture: A Case Study

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2025 Feb 28

PMID 40018498

Authors

Satoshi Hakukawa

Kento Kashiwagura

Honami Kishimoto

Akane Saito

Kazuya Fukae

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Reducing knee joint load during gait in patients after tibial plateau fracture remains a long-term challenge, and effective interventions have not yet been established. This case report involved a 52-year-old female patient, three months after surgery for a tibial plateau fracture accompanied by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) avulsion injury. A self-exercise given by the therapist aimed at strengthening both knee extensor and hip abductor muscles was implemented to improve knee joint load during gait. The intervention followed a withdrawal and reversal design (BAB) over two 6-week phases, with weekly strength measurements and assessments of knee flexion angle, performance tests, and three-dimensional gait analysis conducted at the end of each phase. During the intervention period, an increase in knee flexion moment and a decrease in knee adduction moment were observed, indicating improvements in knee joint load. These results underscore the importance of combined knee extensor and hip abductor strengthening exercises.

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