Analysis of Gait Biomechanics in Patients After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Using Low-Cost Sensors: An...

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of lower-limb arthroplasty, and although total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) reduce pain and improve quality of life, gait impairments often persist after surgery. This study aimed to analyze gait patterns in individuals following THA and TKA using the wearable RunScribe™ sensor system and to examine its sensitivity to short-term changes during rehabilitation. Thirty-seven patients (19 THA, 18 TKA) attending a two-week inpatient rehabilitation program were assessed twice, on the first and final day of rehabilitation. Gait was measured during a 2 min circular walk test, and both global spatiotemporal variables and limb-specific loading-related variables were analyzed. A significant main effect of time was observed for walking speed (p = 0.001, ηp² = 0.284), with improvements of approximately 10% in both groups, as well as for step cadence (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.429) and contact time (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.380). Loading-related variables also changed significantly over time, including impact acceleration (p = 0.004, ηp² = 0.226), braking acceleration (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.419), and rate of force development (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.412). No statistically significant between-group differences were observed for global gait variables, although participants following THA showed a tendency toward better walking performance (e.g., higher cadence, p = 0.065). These findings suggest that early rehabilitation is associated with measurable improvements in gait after arthroplasty and support the potential of affordable wearable sensors as practical tools for objective gait assessment in clinical settings.