Positive Correlation Between the Hip Adduction Moment Impulse During the Stance Phase and the Hip Joint Contact Force Impulse

Background: Excessive mechanical loading, in the form of the joint contact force, has been reported to promote osteoarthritis in vitro and vivo in mice. However, it has also been reported that an excessive hip adduction moment impulse during the stance phase likely contributes to the progression of hip osteoarthritis. The relationship between the hip adduction moment impulse and hip joint contact force (impulse, and first and second peaks) during the stance phase is unclear. The objective of the present study was to clarify this relationship. Methods: A public dataset pertaining to the overground walking of 84 healthy adults, in which the participants walked at a self-selected speed, was considered. The data of three trials for each participant were analyzed. The relationship between the hip adduction moment and hip joint contact force, in terms of the impulse and first and second peaks, during the stance phase was evaluated using correlation coefficients.Results: The hip adduction moment impulse during the stance phase was positively correlated with the hip joint contact force impulse and not correlated with the first and second peak hip joint contact forces. Furthermore, the first and second peak hip adduction moments during the stance phase were positively correlated with the first and second peak hip joint contact forces, respectively. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the hip joint contact force impulse during the stance phase can be used as an index to determine the risk factors for the progression of hip osteoarthritis.