Advances in Gait Symmetry and Knee Kinematics in Rehabilitation and Sports
A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Life Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: bioengineering; movement analysis; biomechanics; rehabilitation; sports science
Interests: biomechanics; gait analysis; sports science
Interests: bioengineering; movement analysis; biomechanics; rehabilitation; healthcare
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Symmetry in human gait is a key indicator of functional integrity and motor control. The knee joint plays a central role in ensuring stability, efficiency, and smoothness of movement. Even subtle alterations in knee kinematics may lead to asymmetries that compromise gait quality and efficiency, increase energy expenditure, predispose individuals to injury, and negatively affect long-term joint health.
Asymmetries in gait and knee function are commonly observed after orthopedic surgery, sports injuries, and neurological disorders. They represent both a biomarker of impairment and a target for rehabilitation and training. In the sports domain, gait asymmetry and altered knee kinematics may reduce performance efficiency, increase the risk of overuse injuries, and delay recovery after trauma. Consequently, their accurate assessment and targeted correction are crucial not only in clinical and rehabilitation contexts but also in sports science and athletic performance optimization.
Technological advances, including three-dimensional motion capture systems, wearable inertial sensors, force platforms, and artificial intelligence-driven analytics, now allow for increasingly precise, continuous, and ecologically valid measurement of gait and joint function. These innovations enhance our understanding of knee biomechanics in health, disease, and sports performance, and offer novel opportunities for personalized rehabilitation, remote monitoring, injury prevention, and the development of assistive and training solutions.
This Special Issue aims to collect recent studies and applications addressing the multifaceted role of symmetry in gait analysis and knee kinematics. We welcome authors to submit manuscripts (original research, reviews, clinical reports, and methodological papers) that focus on, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Biomechanical and clinical perspectives on gait symmetry and knee kinematics.
- Quantitative methods and indices for measuring gait symmetry.
- The role of symmetry in orthopedic rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, and sports medicine.
- Wearable technologies, sensors, and telemonitoring solutions for assessing gait symmetry.
- Applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computational modeling in gait analysis.
- Advances in orthoses, prostheses, and robotic devices aimed at restoring or improving symmetrical gait patterns.
With this Special Issue, we seek to foster a multidisciplinary approach, welcoming contributions from physicians, physiotherapists, biomedical engineers, sports scientists, data scientists, and other specialized professionals. The overall objective is to advance the understanding of gait symmetry and knee kinematics, improve rehabilitation strategies, and enhance performance and injury prevention in sports.
Dr. Serena Cerfoglio
Dr. Jorge Lopes Storniolo
Dr. Veronica Cimolin
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- gait symmetry
- knee kinematics
- biomechanics
- rehabilitation
- sports science
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
