Gait Alterations in Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective: People with knee osteoarthritis suffer from many different symptoms and signs, including gait deviations. Studying in deep these alterations through precise instruments like optoelectronic systems allows clinicians to identify alterations on the different body planes during gait. Methods: This study highlights the different alterations found by literature, analyzing them according to the single gait phase. Results: The spatiotemporal parameters are among the most altered parameters; with stride length and speed reduction, on the kinetic and kinematic level, the knee range of motion is reduced while the moments affecting the knee, hip, and ankle joint are altered in the different phases of stance. Conclusions: Preliminary studies have been developed on the possible quantification of these alterations through scoring systems like the Gait Deviation Index. Further studies should use this scoring system also to solve the issue between the possible correlation of pain and gait deviation that literature is still trying to solve.