Knee Flexion During Stance as a Determinant of Inefficient Walking

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Abstract
A biomechanical analysis of normal walking assessed the mechanical work cost in joules per unit mass and distance walked. For 21 walking trials—seven subjects at slow, natural, and fast cadences—these work costs (min = .73 J/kg.m, max = 1.65 J/kg.m) were correlated with maximum knee flexion during stance (min=6°, max= 33°). The results were contrary to the predictions of previous researchers who claimed that the energy cost would increase as the knee became more rigid during stance. This study showed a significant positive correlation between work cost and maximum knee flexion. The implications of these findings and the predicted increase of bone-on-bone forces as knee flexion increases are discussed relative to the gait training of certain patient populations.

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