More Predictable and Less Automatized Movements during Walking -not during Repetitive Punching- in Knee...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Kinesiology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Gait assessment in knee osteoarthritis (KO) is challenged by compensatory movements.
• The non-affected leg is an unreliable reference frame for the affected leg in KO gait analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of upper extremity cyclical movements as an alternative reference frame for gait assessment in KO.
• To compare movement predictability and automatization during treadmill walking and repetitive punching between individuals with KO and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Eleven participants with unilateral KO and eleven healthy controls performed treadmill walking and a frequency-controlled repetitive punching task.
• Movement behavior, including predictability and automatization, was assessed during both tasks.

Main Results:

• During treadmill walking, the KO group exhibited more predictable and less automatized movement behavior compared to controls.
• During repetitive punching, the KO group showed similar predictability but more automatized movement behavior than controls.
• Upper extremity movement predictability during repetitive punching was not significantly affected by KO.

Conclusions:

• The movement behavior of the upper extremities during repetitive punching is less influenced by knee osteoarthritis.
• Repetitive punching tasks may serve as a viable alternative reference frame for gait assessment in patients with KO.
• This finding could lead to more accurate and reliable gait evaluations in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.