Running title: Knee strength and gait following meniscectomy

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between muscular strength about the knee and knee joint moments during gait in patients who had undergone arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM). Methods: 102 APM patients and 42 age-matched, non-operated controls underwent strength testing and 3D gait analysis. Patients were divided into weak and normal subgroups and compared with controls for spatiotemporal, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters. Results: Spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics and sagittal plane kinetics were similar between APM patients and controls. The APM group displayed weaker concentric knee extension and flexion strength compared to controls. The weak APM subgroup had an increased average knee adduction moment over stance, compared to the APM subgroup with normal strength levels. The weak APM subgroup also had larger peak knee adduction moments in early stance, compared to controls. Conclusion: Achieving normal lower limb muscle strength following APM appears important to resume normal frontal plane loading of the knee while walking