Functional gait analysis reveals insufficient hindfoot compensation for varus and valgus osteoarthritis of the knee

The hindfoot is believed to compensate varus and valgus deformities of the knee by eversion and inversion movements. But these mechanisms were merely found in static radiologic measurements. The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess dynamic foot posture during gait using pressure-sensitive wireless insoles in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and frontal knee deformities.

Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were prospectively included in this study. Patients were clinically and radiologically (mechanical tibiofemoral angle (mTFA), hindfoot alignment view angle (HAVA), and talar tilt (TT)) exa mined. Gait line analysis was conducted using pressure-sensitive digital shoe insoles.

Eighty-two patients (varus n = 52, valgus n = 30) were included in this prospective clinical study. Radiologically, the mTFA significantly correlated with the HAVA (cor = -0.72, p < 0.001) and with the TT (Pearson's cor = 0.32, p < 0.006). Gait analysis revealed that the gait lines in varus knee osteoarthritis were lateralized, despite the hindfoot valgus. In valgus knee osteoarthritis, gait lines were medialized, although the hindfoot compensated by varization.

Functional dynamic gait analysis could demonstrate that the hindfoot is not able to sufficiently compensate for frontal malalignments of the knee joint, contrary to static radiologic findings. This led to a narrowing of the joint space of the ankle medially in varus and laterally in valgus knee osteoarthritis.