Recovery in functional non-copers following anterior cruciate ligament rupture as detected by gait kinematics

Objectives To evaluate if gait compensation strategies for selected kinematic variables can be identified in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient non-copers using two-dimensional (2D) clinical gait analysis. Design Prospective observational design, repeated measures. Setting University hospital, out-patients department. Patients Sixty-three patients that attended the acute knee screening service were diagnosed with an acute ACL rupture and consented to participate. A sub-set of 15 copers/adapters and 13 non-copers were eligible for final analysis because they were contactable for sub-classification and had gait analysis at 1 and 4 months post-injury. Main outcome measures 2D video gait analysis for sagittal plane hip, knee and ankle kinematics and time–distance variables. Results At 4 months post-injury non-copers demonstrated significantly less recovery of knee angle (F(1,1)=5.79, p<0.024), hip displacement angle (F(1,1)=4.89, p