Lower limb kinematics of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty individuals during stair ascent

Purpose of the study was to compare lower-limb kinematics and interlimb asymmetry during stair ascent in individuals post-medial or lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). 60 patients (20 medial; 10 lateral) post-UKA and 30 matched healthy controls performed stair ascent. Spatio-temporal, lower-limb kinematics and interlimb asymmetries during stair ascent were compared. Medial-UKA group displayed 5° less knee extension of the UKA limb than controls (p = 0.005) and 2° less than the contralateral limb during stance phase. No interlimb asymmetries were found for lateral-UKA. Patients post-UKA demonstrate satisfactory lower-limb kinematics and minimal interlimb asymmetry during stair ascent compared to healthy individuals.