Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent condition resulting to disability particularly in elderly population. Gait changes in knee OA has been explored but there are no previous studies establishing the relationship of these gait parameter changes with increase in radiological grade of OA. Research Question: Does the spatiotemporal parameters changes consistently with increase in radiological grade in patients with OA knee?

Method: A total of 96 subjects, 24 subjects each from Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1 to 4, with bilateral medial compartment knee OA and age group 40-70 years, fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. Gait analysis was done for all subjects with the same protocol at a self-selected walking speed. Gait parameters were measured for each subject which included cadence [steps/min], speed [m/s], mean stride length [m], normalised stride length [% height], stance phase duration [%], swing phase duration [%], single support phase [%] and 1st double support phase [%].

Result: There was a progressive decrease in cadence, walking speed, mean stride length, normalised stride length, swing phase duration and single support phase, with a progressive increase in stance phase duration and 1st double support phase with increase in grade of OA. All the above parameters except mean swing phase duration were observed to have a significant change with increase in grade of OA. In conclusion, the changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with OA knee, appears to be consistent with the disease progression. Significance: Rehabilitation strategies for knee OA can be directed towards interventions addressing the gait changes and treatment effects can be monitored effectively with gait analysis because of the consistency in gait changes with increase in radiological grade.