Illustration of a person walking with energy lines and gear.

Unlocking Movement: How Biomechanics Reveals the Secrets of Walking with Knee Pain, ACL Injuries, and Beyond

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A Deep Dive into the Mechanical Energy of Your Gait: Understanding the Science Behind How You Walk and How Injuries Change It."

Walking, a seemingly simple act, is a complex dance of muscles, bones, and energy. For those of us who may take it for granted, the intricate mechanics of each step often go unnoticed. However, for individuals dealing with musculoskeletal disorders such as knee osteoarthritis, ACL injuries, or Parkinson's disease, walking can become a significant challenge. Understanding how these conditions affect the mechanics of walking, particularly the energy involved, is critical for improving mobility and quality of life.

This article explores the fascinating world of biomechanics, focusing on how researchers are using mechanical energy analysis to dissect the nuances of human gait. By examining the kinetic, potential, and total mechanical energy involved in walking, scientists can gain valuable insights into how these energies are altered by various conditions. This knowledge not only helps us understand the problems but also paves the way for more effective treatments and rehabilitation strategies.

We'll delve into the findings of a comparative study that examined the mechanical energy differences in normal individuals, those with ACL reconstruction, osteoarthritis, and Parkinson's disease. This research sheds light on how these conditions impact walking, offering hope for improved diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, a better understanding of human movement.

The Energy of Movement: What Biomechanics Reveals

Illustration of a person walking with energy lines and gear.

Biomechanics, the study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms, provides a powerful lens through which we can examine human gait. When we walk, our bodies constantly generate and manage energy. This energy can be broken down into several key components: kinetic energy (the energy of motion), potential energy (stored energy), and the total mechanical energy (the sum of kinetic and potential energies).

Analyzing these energy components allows researchers to assess the efficiency of walking and identify how various factors, such as injury or disease, disrupt this efficiency. By measuring the effort required to move the body's center of gravity (COG) forward, we can understand how much energy a person needs to expend while walking. The COG refers to the point where the body's mass is evenly distributed, and its movement plays a crucial role in the efficiency of walking.

Kinetic Energy: This is the energy of motion, directly related to the speed of the body segments.
Potential Energy: This is stored energy, influenced by the position of body segments relative to the ground.
Total Mechanical Energy: This is the sum of kinetic and potential energy, representing the overall energy expenditure during walking.

Researchers use sophisticated tools, including 3D motion analysis systems and anthropometric measurements, to calculate these energy values. This data helps them understand how various conditions affect the natural flow of energy during walking, providing crucial information for healthcare professionals and individuals alike.

Empowering Movement: The Future of Biomechanics

The study of biomechanics offers a promising avenue for understanding and treating various musculoskeletal disorders. By continuing to explore the intricate relationship between energy, movement, and health, we can unlock new possibilities for improved mobility and quality of life. The insights gained from studies like the one discussed in this article are essential for clinicians, researchers, and patients, ensuring that the complexities of human movement are better understood and effectively addressed.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3233/thc-170843, Alternate LINK

Title: A Comparative Study On The Mechanical Energy Of The Normal, Acl, Osteoarthritis, And Parkinson Subjects

Subject: Health Informatics

Journal: Technology and Health Care

Publisher: IOS Press

Authors: Hossein Bahreinizad, Milad Salimi Bani, Mojtaba Hasani, Mohammad Taghi Karimi, Keyvan Sharifmoradi, Alireza Karimi

Published: 2017-08-09

Everything You Need To Know

What is biomechanics, and how does it help us understand walking?

Biomechanics is the study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms. It provides a framework for examining human gait by analyzing energy components like kinetic energy, potential energy, and total mechanical energy. By understanding how these energies interact, researchers can assess the efficiency of walking and identify disruptions caused by factors like injury or disease, leading to improved treatments and rehabilitation strategies.

How do conditions like knee osteoarthritis, ACL injuries, and Parkinson's disease affect the way we walk, according to biomechanical analysis?

Conditions such as knee osteoarthritis, ACL injuries, and Parkinson's disease can significantly alter the mechanics of walking. Biomechanical analysis, particularly the examination of kinetic energy, potential energy, and total mechanical energy, helps reveal how these conditions impact the efficiency of gait. For example, changes in the movement of the body's center of gravity (COG) can indicate how much additional energy a person expends while walking, providing insights into the specific challenges posed by each condition.

What are kinetic and potential energy, and how do they relate to walking?

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, directly related to the speed of body segments during walking. Potential energy, on the other hand, is stored energy influenced by the position of body segments relative to the ground. Both kinetic and potential energy contribute to total mechanical energy, which represents the overall energy expenditure during walking. Analyzing these energy components helps researchers understand the efficiency of walking and identify disruptions caused by factors like injury or disease.

How is total mechanical energy calculated, and what does it tell us about a person's walking ability?

Total mechanical energy is calculated as the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy. Researchers use 3D motion analysis systems and anthropometric measurements to calculate these values. By assessing total mechanical energy, one can understand the overall energy expenditure during walking. Higher expenditure indicates reduced efficiency, often linked to musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. This analysis provides crucial information for healthcare professionals to develop targeted interventions.

What implications does mechanical energy analysis have for treating musculoskeletal disorders and improving rehabilitation strategies related to walking?

Mechanical energy analysis provides a detailed understanding of how conditions like ACL injuries, osteoarthritis, and Parkinson's disease alter normal walking patterns, specifically by examining kinetic energy, potential energy and total mechanical energy. This understanding enables clinicians to develop more effective and targeted treatment and rehabilitation strategies. By identifying the specific energy inefficiencies caused by these conditions, interventions can be designed to improve mobility, reduce energy expenditure, and enhance the overall quality of life for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. This may involve exercises, assistive devices, or therapies aimed at restoring more efficient movement patterns and better management of the body's center of gravity (COG).