Quantitative Gait Analysis in Patients with Asymmetrically Affected Osteoarthritis Knees

Objective: Many studies have done gait analysis in osteoarthritis knee patients. However they have not compared gait parameters from more affected side to less affected side. Present study was aimed to find differences in quantitative gait parameters in patients with asymmetrically involved osteoarthritic knees.

Method: 31 patients with asymmetrical knee osteoarthritis participated in the study. The total population was subdivided into subgroups as per their gender, severity and presence or absence of quadriceps lag. Footprint method of gait analysis was used to evaluate quantitative gait parameters (step length, stride length, foot angle). The parameters were compared between more affected side and less affected side.

Results: Patients Had reduced gait velocity and cadence and increased base of support. Intergroup difference did not show significant difference except lesser cadence values in tricompartmental osteoarthritis group when compared with bicompartmental osteoarthritis. All patients had significantly reduced foot angle on more affected side. Out of all subgroups females, patients with tricompartmental osteoarthritis and patients with quadriceps subgroups showed significant differences in foot angle. No step length difference was found between the two sides.

Conclusion: Reduced foot angle on more affected side might indicate an increased knee adduction moment on more affected side. Footprint method can be a useful tool of gait analysis in patients with knee osteoarthritis.