Effect of valgus knee alignment on gait biomechanics in healthy women

The purpose of this study was to compare lower extremity kinematics and kinetics between women with greater or lesser degrees of valgus knee alignment during gait. Nine women with greater valgus knee alignment (11.9 ± 1.6°) were compared to nine women with lesser valgus knee alignment (6.6 ± 2.4°). Participants completed a biomechanical assessment of overground walking for the right limb. Dependent variables included sagittal and frontal plane joint angles and moments for the hip, knee, and ankle at peak vertical ground reaction force, along with knee abduction angular impulse. Sagittal and frontal plane excursions for the hip, knee, and ankle were calculated from heel strike to the peak angle for each variable. The greater valgus alignment group demonstrated lower knee abduction moment (p = 0.007), lower knee adduction angle (p < 0.001), and greater ankle inversion moment (p = 0.034) at peak vertical ground reaction force, as well as lower knee abduction angular impulse (p = 0.007), and knee adduction ROM (p = 0.026). No other group differences were identified for any kinematic or kinetic variables (p > 0.05). Less knee adduction angle and excursion coupled with lower knee abduction moment and angular impulse in women with greater knee valgus indicates these individuals may be experiencing biomechanics which promote lateral tibiofemoral joint loading.