Effects of severity of osteoarthritis on the temporospatial gait parameters in patients with knee osteoarthritis

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in temporospatial parameters in according to severity of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

The study included a total of 110 subjects with no orthopedic or neurologic disease that might affect gait were divided into three study and one control groups. Eighty subjects (mean age: 53.13 ± 6.78 years) were diagnosed with bilateral knee OA and divided into groups according to Kellgren-Lawrence radiologic scale: the Phase 1 group included 29 subjects, Phase 2, 28 subjects, and Phase 3, 23 subjects. The control group was composed of 30 healthy subjects (25 females, 5 males; mean age: 41.50 ± 5.79 years). Temporospatial gait data were evaluated using a gait analysis system.

There were no significant differences in all temporospatial parameters between the control group and the Phase 1 and 2 OA groups (p>0.05). There was a significant decrease in cadence, gait velocity, stride length and step length (p<0.008) and a significant increase in stride time, double support time, step time, single support time and stance phase length in patients with Phase 3 knee OA compared to the other groups (p<0.008).

Changes in temporospatial parameters of patients with Phase 3 knee OA may be correlated with loss of gait stabilization and increase in risk of falling. In subjects with knee OA, gait stabilization and balance loss must be examined and evaluated in terms of risk of falling and necessary precautions must be taken.