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Background: Although weight bearing lunge exercises are frequently employed during anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation, cruciate ligament tensile forces are currently unknown while performing forward and side lunge exercises with and without a stride. Methods: Eighteen subjects used their 12 repetition maximum weight while performing a forward lunge and side lunge with and without a stride. A motion analysis system and biomechanical model were used to estimate cruciate ligament forces during lunging as a function of 0–90° knee angles. Findings: Comparing the forward lunge to the side lunge across stride variations, mean posterior cruciate ligament forces ranged between 205 and 765N and were significantly greater (P <0.0025) in the forward lunge long at 40°, 50°, 60°, 70°, and 80° knee angles of the descent phase and at 80°, 70°, 60° knee angles of the ascent phase. There were no significant differences (P <0.0025) in mean posterior cruciate ligament forces between with and without stride differences across lunging variations. There were no anterior cruciate ligament forces quantified while performing forward and side lunge exercises. Interpretation: Clinicians should be cautious in prescribing forward and side lunge exercises during early phases of posterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation due to relatively high posterior cruciate ligament forces that are generated, especially during the forward lunge at knee angles between 40° and 90° knee angles. Both the forward and side lunges appear appropriate during all phases of anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation. Understanding how forward and side lunging affect cruciate ligament loading over varying knee angles may help clinicians better prescribe lunging exercises in a safe manner during anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Although weight bearing lunge exercises are frequently employed during patellofemoral rehabilitation, patellofemoral compressive force and stress are currently unknown for these exercises. Methods: Eighteen subjects used their 12 repetition maximum weight while performing forward and side lunges with and without a stride. EMG, force platform, and kinematic variables were input into a biomechanical model, and patellofemoral compressive force and stress were calculated as a function of knee angle. Findings: Patellofemoral force and stress progressively decreased as knee flexion increased and progressively increased as knee flexion decreased. Patellofemoral force and stress were greater in the side lunge compared to the forward lunge between 80° and 90° knee angles, and greater with a stride compared to without a stride between 10° and 50° knee angles. There were no significant interactions between lunge variations and stride variations. Interpretation: A more functional knee flexion range between 0° and 50° may be appropriate during the early phases of patellofemoral rehabilitation due to lower patellofemoral compressive force and stress during this range compared to higher knee angles between 60° and 90°. Moreover, when the goal is to minimize patellofemoral compressive force and stress, it may be prudent to employ forward and side lunges without a stride compared to with a stride, especially at lower knee angles between 0° and 50°. Understanding differences in patellofemoral compressive force and stress among lunge variations may help clinicians prescribe safer and more effective exercise interventions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]