Article

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that affects millions of people. While
numerous gait differences have been identified between healthy adults and adults
with knee OA under normal and challenging conditions, adults with knee OA have
not been studied during a challenging weighted walking task. Investigation of the
effect of weighted walking on the initial contact and loading response phases of
gait was undertaken in 20 healthy and 20 knee OA subjects ages 40-85 years old
walking at 1.0m/s while unweighted and weighted with 1/6th of their body weight
in a weight vest. Subjects were grouped according to their Kellgren and Lawrence
radiographic score and healthy subjects were age-matched to those with knee OA.
ANOVA revealed significant effects for hip flexion angle at initial contact, step
length, initial double support percent, and load rate. Post hoc t-tests revealed
that subjects with knee OA had a larger initial double support percent and hip
flexion angle at initial contact and a decreased load rate compared to
unweighted, healthy adults. Also, both groups increased their initial double
support percent in response to the challenging weighted walking task, but only
the healthy adults increased their hip flexion angle at initial contact and
decreased their load rate. During the weighted condition, the knee OA group had a
shorter step length compared to the healthy group. Because the knee OA group only
made minor compensations to their gait strategy, it appears that they may be
unable or prefer not to adjust their gait mechanics due to underlying issues.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS