Author/Editor		Biščević, Mirza; Tomić, Davor; Starc, Vito; Smrke, Dragica
Title		Gender differences in knee kinematics and its possible consequences
Type		članek
Source		Croat Med J
Vol. and No.		Letnik 46, št. 2
Publication year		2005
Volume		str. 253-60
Language		eng
Abstract		To analyze anatomic and kinematic characteristics of male and female knees in the sagittal plane. Ten healthy male and 10 healthy female participants performed extension of their right lower leg in non-weight bearing and weight bearing conditions. The centers of knee joint motion were obtained by videographic motion analysis, and radii of condylar curves were calculated from digitalized X-ray scan. The Knee Roll software was made for this purpose. The extension of the knee in non-weight loaded and weight loaded conditions is a combination of rolling and sliding joint surface motion with 6:5 ratio, in both genders. During the last 20° of the extension of weight loaded male knee, rolling/sliding ratio changed to 8:1 (P< 0.05). Average radii of condylar curves were between 4.5 and 1.7 cm medially, and between 3.2 and 1.8 cm laterally, for 0° and 90° flexion contact point, respectively. Gender differences in the radii of condylar curves, after the adjusting to body height were insignificant. A higher proportion of joint surface sliding with consecutive anterior tibial displacement in women indicates more strain during knee extension, potentially making the female anterior cruciate ligament tend and susceptible to injury. The gender differences in the knee kinematics are probably the consequence of different soft tissue strucaure or its activity, because no difference in the sagittal shape of femoral condyles was noted.
Descriptors		KNEE JOINT BIOMECHANICS RANGE OF MOTION, ARTICULAR MODELS, ANATOMIC VIDEO RECORDING SEX FACTORS ADULT