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Walking Speed As a Potential Indicator of Cartilage Breakdown Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Author(s) -
Pietrosimone Brian,
Troy Blackburn J.,
Harkey Matthew S.,
Luc Brittney A.,
Hackney Anthony C.,
Padua Darin A.,
Driban Jeffrey B.,
Spang Jeffrey T.,
Jordan Joanne M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
arthritis care and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.032
H-Index - 163
eISSN - 2151-4658
pISSN - 2151-464X
DOI - 10.1002/acr.22773
Subject(s) - medicine , preferred walking speed , cartilage , osteoarthritis , aggrecan , anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction , gait , anterior cruciate ligament , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surgery , pathology , articular cartilage , anatomy , alternative medicine
Objective To determine whether or not self‐selected walking speed associates with serum biomarkers of cartilage (collagen and proteoglycan) breakdown in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACLR) individuals. Methods Twenty individuals with a history of a primary unilateral ACLR participated in this cross‐sectional study. Resting blood was collected from each participant prior to completing 5 walking gait trials at a self‐selected comfortable speed. Walking speed was evaluated in a 3‐dimensional motion capture laboratory and determined from the velocity of the pelvic center of mass. Sera were assessed for collagen type II cleavage product (C2C) and proteoglycan (aggrecan) concentrations using commercially available specific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Pearson's product‐moment (r) and Spearman's (ρ) correlations were used to evaluate associations between walking speed and biomarkers of cartilage breakdown metabolism. Partial correlations were used to determine whether covariates influenced associations between walking speed and biomarkers of cartilage breakdown. Results ACLR individuals with a slower walking speed demonstrated higher concentrations of serum C2C (r = −0.52, P = 0.02), while there was no significant association between walking speed and aggrecan concentrations (ρ = −0.29, P = 0.31). After accounting for the variance associated with stance phase duration, ACLR individuals with a slower walking speed still demonstrated greater serum C2C concentrations (partial r = −0.53, P = 0.02). Conclusion ACLR individuals who habitually walk slower may experience a greater degree of collagen breakdown, suggesting that walking speed may be a future useful clinical indicator for identifying individuals with higher levels of cartilage breakdown and preradiographic osteoarthritic joint changes.