Comparison of spatial and temporal variables of gait between individuals above and below 65 years with bilateral knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background:Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knees is a chronic degenerative disease that causes changes in the articular cartilage, the most common musculoskeletal disease worldwide (Blanco et al., 1998). The World Health Organization estimates that 25% of those over 65 years suffer from pain and disability associatedwith this disease. Symptoms of kneeOA are related to pain joint, loss of muscle strength of the lower extremities, gait disturbance and decreased aerobic capacity (Fransen et al., 2001). Considering that this disease increases with advancing age, it is important to evaluate the influence of aging on parameters of gait in individuals with knee OA. Purpose:To compare the parameters of gait in individuals above and below 65 years with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Twenty individuals of both sexes with bilateral knee OA grades I-III according to the classification of Kellgren and Lawrence were evaluated and divided into group 1 (n= 10): individuals with OA below 65 years (45–55 years) and group 2 (n= 10): individuals with OA over 65 years (65–75 years) who live in the city of Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, which signed a consent form agreeing to participate in this study, approved by the Committee of Ethics of the Clinical Hospital, Medicine School of Ribeirao Preto. Participants underwent a radiograph of bilateral knees and all were diagnosed with some degree of OA (I–III in both knees) by an experienced radiologist. For analysis of gait variables (speed and step length) the equipmentGAITRitePlatinum26′ Portable Walkway System was used. The participants were instructed to walk (simulating habitual gait) on the carpet of the equipment, the gait starting 1 meter before and finishing 1 meter after the carpet to exclude acceleration and deceleration (repeating the task 3 times). For statistical analyses the T test of Student with level of significance p≤ 0.05 was used. Results: Subjects in group 1 presented amean (±standard deviation) value of speed gait of 1.08± 0.11m/s and left step length of 56.92± 3.34 cm and right step length of 57.42± 3.14 cm, with no significant difference compared to group 2 who presented mean value of speed gait of 1.02± 0.14m/s and left step length of 57.96± 5.39 cm and right step length of 56.80± 5.54 cm. Conclusion(s):Neither the aging process or OA presence promoted changes in gait parameters in individuals with OA. It can be concluded that aging was not a factor that promoted changes in variables of gait of subjects with knee OA. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate and to compare gait parameters between subjects with and without OA with different age ranges. Implications: The better understanding of the impact of aging process on gait aspects in individuals with knee OA is important to help in the elaboration of physical therapy intervention.