ArticlePM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation2019
Pregnancy Results in Lasting Changes in Knee Joint Laxity.
Article in PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of continued prenatal Pilates until childbirth on postpartum ligamentous recovery: a longitudinal follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Trial
- Effectiveness of a prenatal pilates program on ligamentous laxity and joint hypermobility in pregnant women: a dual-center randomized controlled trial.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Trial
- Neuromusculoskeletal disorders in pregnancy revisited: Insights and clinical implications.Joint diseases and related surgery · 2025Review
- Cracking the Case: Post-pregnancy Bilateral Femoral Fragility, a Rare Clinical Challenge.Cureus · 2025Article
- Association between BMI and knee osteoarthritis in Chinese adults aged 45 years and older: evidence from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease analysis and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- What do we actually know about the biomechanics of pregnancy and labour? A systematic scoping review.PloS one · 2025Article
- Suitable Heel Height, a Potential Method for Musculoskeletal Problems during the Third Trimester: A Pilot Study.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Long-Term Effects of Reproduction and Lactation on the Rat Supraspinatus Tendon and Proximal Humerus.Journal of biomechanical engineering · 2024Article
- The Combined Influence of Infant Carrying Method and Motherhood on Gait Mechanics.Journal of applied biomechanics · 2024Article
- Osteoarthritis as an Umbrella Term for Different Subsets of Humans Undergoing Joint Degeneration: The Need to Address the Differences to Develop Effective Conservative Treatments and Prevention Strategies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Sex Differences in Biological Systems and the Conundrum of Menopause: Potential Commonalities in Post-Menopausal Disease Mechanisms.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Common musculoskeletal impairments in postpartum runners: an international Delphi study.Archives of physiotherapy · 2020Article
- Plantar Fascia Thickness Difference Between Pregnant and Nulliparous in Indonesia.Journal of medical ultrasoundArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAltered joint laxity can contribute to joint dysfunction. Knee joint laxity has been shown to increase during pregnancy, but its long-term persistence is unknown.
objectiveTo determine whether pregnancy leads to lasting increases in knee joint compliance and laxity that persist longer than 4 months postpartum.
designProspective cohort study.
settingA motion analysis laboratory at an academic medical center.
participantsFifty healthy women in their first trimester of pregnancy (mean ± SD 29.2 ± 4.3 years old and baseline body mass index 26.0 ± 5.4 kg/m
interventionEnd-range knee laxity and midrange joint compliance were measured during the first trimester and 19 ± 4 weeks postpartum. Anterior-posterior and varus-valgus laxity were measured using 3-dimensional motion tracking while applying forces and moments in each respective plane using the Vermont Knee Laxity Device. Nonlinear models were constructed to assess relations between applied forces and joint translation, comparing early pregnancy with postpartum. OUTCOMES: Multiplanar knee laxity and compliance.
resultsPeak varus-valgus (20-22%; P = .001) and posterior translation (51%; P < .001) of the tibia relative to the femur decreased from baseline, with a concomitant decrease in laxity (P < .001) and compliance (P = .039) in the coronal plane and in the posterior direction in primiparous (P = .009) and multiparous (P = .014) women. For primiparous women, laxity (P < .001) and compliance (P = .009) increased in the anterior direction.
conclusionsPregnancy resulted in a lasting decrease in multiplanar knee laxity and compliance in the varus and posterior directions with an increase in anterior compliance. The effects of these changes in laxity and compliance of the passive stabilizers on knee loading patterns, articular contact stresses, and risk for osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders will require additional research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.
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