ArticleFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology2026
Gait asymmetry as a determinant of functional recovery and return to sport after ACL reconstruction: a cross-sectional biomechanical analysis.
Article in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in the rehabilitation of knee meniscus injuries: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Lasers in medical science · 2026Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Gait asymmetry and impaired functional performance are common after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and may influence return-to-sport (RTS) outcomes. Despite advancements in rehabilitation, a substantial proportion of individuals fail to regain pre-injury activity levels, often due to unresolved biomechanical deficits. Quantifying gait asymmetry and its relationship with functional capacity may provide insight into factors that differentiate those who successfully return to sport from those who do not. Methods: Eighty-six participants (43 RTS, 43 non-RTS) between 6 and 24 months post-ACL reconstruction completed 3D gait analysis and a standardized battery of single-leg hop tests. Gait asymmetry indices included kinetic and kinematic variables, while functional performance was assessed using hop distances, timed hops, and limb symmetry indices (LSIs). Group comparisons were analyzed using independent Results: The RTS group demonstrated significantly lower asymmetry across all gait variables, including vertical ground reaction force asymmetry expressed as an asymmetry index percentage derived from body-weight-normalized force values (8.45% ± 3.21% vs. 12.34% ± 4.02%, p = 0.001) and peak knee flexion angle asymmetry (degrees; 3.12 ± 1.10° vs. 5.67 ± 1.45°, p < 0.001). They also performed better on all hop tests, including single-leg hop distance (centimeters; 162.34 ± 12.45 vs. 148.76 ± 14.33 cm, p < 0.001) and Limb Symmetry Index for the 6-m timed hop (percentage ratio of involved-to-uninvolved limb performance; 96.45% ± 2.85% vs. 88.34% ± 3.65%, p < 0.001). Gait asymmetry metrics showed moderate-to-strong correlations with hop performance (r = -0.58 to 0.44). Regression analysis identified peak knee flexion angle asymmetry (B = -2.45, β = -0.41, p < 0.001) and knee extensor moment asymmetry (B = -8.12, β = -0.39, p = 0.004) as significant predictors. Conclusion: Gait asymmetry differentiates individuals based on RTS status and significantly predicts functional performance after ACL reconstruction. These findings support the clinical integration of gait analysis to guide rehabilitation and RTS decisions.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.