Although a clinical examination and X-ray imaging are adequate to diagnose knee osteoarthritis (OA), there is a well-documented discordance between radiographic severity and symptoms. Literature highlights the clinical gap for clinicians to access validated tools to help them better understand dynamic knee dysfunction and mechanical risk factors for disease progression. As well as support them develop and monitor appropriate treatment plans and in their decision process to refer patient for a surgical consultation. The knee kinesiography exam, which assesses and quantifies knee joint dysfunction in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes could help fill this clinical gap (Figure 1).
A comprehensive review on the use of the knee kinesiography exam was conducted to update a technical literature review from 2012 within MEDLINE and RESEARCHGATE databases.
Summary of the review’s findings is presented in Table 1. Results showed that biomechanical dysfunctions assessed through a knee kinesiography exam are associated with patients’ symptomatology and function in a greater extent than OA radiographic severity. Furthermore, a personalized conservative approach based on dynamic biomechanical markers demonstrated significant improvements in terms of patients’ clinical outcomes, satisfaction, treatment adherence, and biomechanical dysfunctions (i.e., correction of varus thrust, dynamic flexion contracture). Several studies also highlighted the added value of a knee kinesiography exam in the management of TKA patients by documenting appropriateness for orthopedic consultation, monitoring function, and allowing a better understanding of residual pain post-TKA. Knee kinesiography is also used as a functional outcomes measure to assess the impact of surgery (arthroplasty, sport medicine) in clinical studies.
This review illustrates how a knee kinesiography exam provides actionable data on knee joint function to successfully improve the understanding of biomechanical dysfunctions. Results highlight the value of this exam for clinicians to personalize and monitor treatments (conservative and surgical) which showed to lead to improved clinical outcomes.