Leg muscle function during recreational alpine skiing in patients following unilateral total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Background: An increasing number of persons expect to participate in demanding sports activities after total knee arthroplasty. However, to date the biomechanics of such activities with an artificial joint is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe leg function during recreational alpine skiing in two patients following unilateral total knee arthroplasty.Materials and Methods: Knee flexion angle and lower extremity muscle activity were measured in two patients after total knee arthroplasty during walking, stair ascending and alpine skiing on different slopes and at different speeds.Results:Lower extremity muscle activity for skiing was greater than that for stair climbing. Electromyographic activity of leg muscles and knee flexion angles differed between the affected and the contralateral leg, between the inside and the outside leg, between normal and fast skiing, and between moderate and flat slopes. The individual differences between legs and conditions were subject specific: Patient A mainly compensated for his TKA by adjusting his muscle activity Patient B mainly compensated for his TKA by adjusting the configuration of his affected leg.Conclusions: These results demonstrate that patients can participate in alpine skiing after their total knee arthroplasty and that patients may use different techniques for compensating for their artificial knee when skiing.