Introduction: Subjective questionnaires, completed by the patient, are ofte
n used to document the status of a disabled knee. The purpose of this study
was to validate the Hughston Clinic subjective knee questionnaire by descr
ibing how knee kinematics and kinetics correlated to subjective knee scores
after knee injury and surgery. Methods: Five groups were studied: patients
2 (N = 37), 6 (N = 37), and 24 (N = 8) wk after ACL reconstruction (ACLR);
patients with a chronic PCL deficiency (N = 9); and uninjured controls (N
= 8). A three-dimensional motion analysis system and force platform were us
ed to measure flexion angles and knee moments during level walking and stai
r climbing. Results: Hughston Clinic questionnaire scores were significantl
y correlated to mechanical descriptors measured during stair ascent and des
cent in the 2- and 6-wk ACLR groups (P < 0.05). The Hughston Clinic questio
nnaire score was correlated to several kinematic variables in the ACL recon
structed knee at 24 wk postoperative, e.g,, knee flexion during walking. In
the PCL deficient group, the Hughston Clinic questionnaire score was corre
lated with several kinetic measures, the peak moment (knee extensors). The
Hughston Clinic questionnaire score was not correlated to knee mechanics in
the control group. Conclusion: The Hughston Clinic questionnaire score has
been shown to be valid in this study as it reflects some mechanical descri
ptors during activities of daily Living in the first 6 wk post ACL reconstr
uction. The questionnaire also provides information on gait modifications b
y people coping with knee injuries.