Kinetic and Kinematic Variables in Middle-Aged Women with Normal and Genu Varum Knee Angle with Emphasis on Walking and Running Activities

The purpose of this study is to examine the differences of kinetic and kinematic variables in middle-aged women with genu varum and normal knee angle during walking and running. Eight middle-aged women with genu varum (age: 45.12 ±12.74 y, height: 160.62 ± 5.26 cm, weight: 71.75 ± 16.38 kg, right tibiofemoral angle: -4 ± 3.9, left tibiofemoral angle: -5.1 ± 4.6) and 7 with normal knee (age: 40.71 ± 11.32 y, height: 157.85 ± 5.01 cm, weight: 71.71 ± 14.00 kg, right tibiofemoral angle: 7.2 ± 2.1, left tibiofemoral angle: 7.8 ± 1.8) volunteered to participate in this study. We measured knee angle in frontal plane based on anatomical axis of femur and tibia by goniometer. This factor was labeled as tibiofemoral angle. Participants walked a 7-m pathway 6 times with self-selected speed, then they ran the same route 3 times. Independent t tests were used to determine statistical differences. Significance level was P < 0.05. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the groups in walking with self-selected speed regarding knee normalized ground reaction force, in medial-lateral and vertical plane, but this variable was significantly greater in anterior-posterior plane among normal knee group (P < 0.05). There was also no significant difference in mediallateral plane in normalized ground reaction force between the groups while they ran. However, this variable in both vertical and anterior-posterior planes was significantly greater in normal knee group (P < 0.05). The results did not show any difference between the groups in angular velocity of knee joint in sagittal plane during swing phase under two situations. According to the findings, the genu varum in dynamic activities such as walking and running is more related to kinetic variables like ground reaction force. These effects are not limited to the frontal plane, however, this variable in vertical and anterior-posterior planes is significantly lower in genu varum knee angle group.