Detailed Investigation of Knee Biomechanics during Posture Maintenance while Applying Different Static Loadings on the Spine

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to investigate in detail the biomechanics of the knee during different static loadings on the spine using electromyographic (EMG) signals from six main surface muscles acting in the knee joint; three components of the ground reaction force measured by a force plate; knee flexion joint angle measured by a flexible goniometer; and the distances between the bones (femur and tibia) forming the knee joint measured by an echograph. The measurements were taken without weight (reference straight position) and with a weight of 2, 5, 10, 15, 17, and 20 kg placed in a rucksack on the spine. The results showed that the forces in the horizontal and sagittal planes were negligible, and the reaction in the frontal plane increased and was linearly dependent on the carrying weight. The distance between bones decreased linearly with increasing weight for all participants from 3.94% to 53.92% from the referent position. The knee angle varied and in many cases decreased with increasing weight. The calculated correlation coefficients between mean EMG signals and loading weight showed that the adjustment of different subjects’ musculature to increasing load is individual. In general, knee joint balance is a dynamic individual process.