Comparison of spatial-temporal-distance gait parameters in male patients with different degrees of knee osteoarthritis

The effects of knee osteoarthritis on spatial, temporal and distance parameters of gait have been reviewed in the literature. But, the effect of osteoarthritis severity on gait parameters has not been clearly documented. The aim of this study was to compare the spatial, temporal and distance parameters in male patients according to severity of the knee osteoarthritis during gait.
A Vicon (130 Hz) motion analysis system with four T-Series cameras was used to measure the spatial, temporal and distance parameters. Fifteen normal men and 30 patients with knee osteoarthritis participated in this study. According to Kellgren and Lawrence radiologic scale, patients were divided into three groups: mild (n = 10), moderate (n = 10) and severe (n = 10). The spatiotemporal parameters of gait including cadence, double support, foot off, opposite foot contact, opposite foot off, single support, step length, step time, step width, stride length, stride time, walking speed, stance time and cycle time were calculated by Vicon Nexus 1.8.5 software. All data were then extracted by use of Polygon 3.5.1, Visual3D .v4 softwares. Using SPSS version 20, data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA test (p There were no significant differences in all temporospatial parameters between the healthy and patient groups (P>0.05). There was a significant decrease in cadence, step length, stride length and walking speed, while, step time, stride time, stance time, double support time were longer in the patients.
Changes of spatial-temporal,-distance gait parameters in the patients with knee osteoarthritis particularly among those with severe osteoarthritis may lead to loss of stability during gait and consequently, a higher fall risk.