Article

The knee osteoarthritis biomechanics literature is varied in how
researchers deal with the potentially confounding effects of differences in
walking speed between individuals with osteoarthritis and healthy controls, and
between increasing levels of knee osteoarthritis severity. While many studies
choose to have participants walk at a self-selected pace in an attempt to observe
and capture natural joint mechanics, some have chosen to have individuals walk at
various speeds and analyze trials at pre-determined speeds. Others have chosen to
statistically control for the confounding effects of speed by using an analysis
of covariance model. This has made it difficult to assimilate findings of various
studies into a consensus of biomechanical changes potentially associated with
disease initiation and progression. And it begs the question of which method(s)
are correct. METHODS: A discussion around this point is overdue and this report
is an attempt to begin this discussion using some examples from the knee
osteoarthritis literature. FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION: Key conclusions of this
report include the inappropriateness of using an analysis of covariance to
statistically control for speed in studies of knee osteoarthritis, and the need
to use caution when interpreting the results of studies that control for speed in
different ways.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS