Abstract

KNEE JOINT STIFFNESS AND PROPRIOCEPTION DURING PREGNANCY

*Widad Hamzah Rasheed and Intisar Abdulqader Maher

Abstract

The study performed in the Department of Orthopedics and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Szeged regarding the physiologic changes occurring during pregnancy which influence the tension of the knee, the proprioception and balance are presented. Twenty-two pregnant and eighteen nonpregnant female volunteers took part in the study, measurements of arthrometry, stabilometry and position of knee joints were performed. These data are the second part of a research series to analyze the cruciate ligament tears, which are more frequent in females from a hormonal point of view than in males, and to establish the appropriate prevention measures. The detected increased weakness of the knee and the weaker proprioceptive perception of the anterior-posterior direction could explain the higher risk of injury of the anterior cruciate ligament.

Keywords: Biomechanics, females, knee joint physiology.