Correlation between single limb support phase and self-evaluation questionnaires in knee osteoarthritis populations

Ronen Debi,Amit Mor,Ganit Segal,Ofer Segal,Gabriel Agar,Eytan Debbi,Nahum Halperin,Amir Haim,Avi Elbaz

doi:10.3109/09638288.2010.520805

Abstract

Purpose. To investigate the correlation between single limb support (SLS) phase (%% of gait cycle) and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36 Health Survey) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).Method. A prospective observational study was employed with 125 adults with bilateral medial compartment symptomatic knee OA who underwent a physical and radiographic evaluation. Velocity, step length and SLS were assessed by a computerised mat (GAITRite). Patients completed the WOMAC and SF-36 Health Survey questionnaires.Results. Statistical analysis examined the correlations between SLS and both questionnaires, between Kellgren & Lawrence (K&L) scores and both questionnaires and between SLS correlations and K&L correlations. We found significantly stronger correlations between SLS and WOMAC-pain, WOMAC-function, the SF-36 pain sub-category, velocity and step length than between K&L scores and these parameters (Pearson's r == 0.50 vs. 0.26, 0.53 vs. 0.34, 0.50 vs. 023, 0.81 vs. 0.33, 0.77 vs. 0.37, respectively; all p < 0.05). Significant differences in SLS were found over WOMAC-pain, WOMAC-function and SF-36 overall score quartiles (p < 0.05 for all).Conclusion. We recommend integrating SLS as an objective parameter in the comprehensive evaluation of patients with knee OA.

Highlights

In order to understand and assess the symptoms and functional severity of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA), clinicians and researchers use validated self-evaluation questionnaires such as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36 Health Survey) [1,2]
Gait velocity and step length were normalised to leg length in order to eliminate the effect of leg length on these parameters [21]
single limb support (SLS) correlated with WOMAC-pain, WOMACfunction, SF-36, velocity and step length

Summary

Introduction

In order to understand and assess the symptoms and functional severity of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA), clinicians and researchers use validated self-evaluation questionnaires such as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36 Health Survey) [1,2]. The SLS value is a percent of the gait cycle that corresponds to the time spent on one limb while the contralateral limb swings forward. In healthy populations, this phase accounts for 38–40% of the gait cycle [8].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion