Gait Modification and Knee Joint Load

The Effect of Gait Modification on Knee Joint Load in Persons With Medial Tibiofemoral Osteoarthritis - A Pilot Study

This pilot study aims to assess the effect of a 6-week individualized gait retraining program on knee load and symptoms in persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

This study aims to pilot-test an individualized gait retraining intervention to reduce knee load, guided by real-time visual feedback of the external knee adduction moment (KAM), a commonly used determinant for medial tibiofemoral (TF) joint load, during walking. Our central hypothesis is that individuals with predominantly medial TF OA can adapt their gait patterns to lower KAM during walking; consequently, reduce knee load and pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• people with radiographic TF OA fulfilling American College of Rheumatology classification criteria
• reporting average knee pain on walking > 3 on an 11-point scale (0-10) in at least one knee
• pain or tenderness predominantly located on the medial knee.

Exclusion Criteria:

• medial TF joint space width greater than lateral
• Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade 4
• knee surgery or intra-articular corticosteroid injection in the past 6 months
• uncomfortable walking on treadmill for 20 minutes
• unable to walk without a walking aide
• inflammatory arthritis
• other musculoskeletal or neurological disorders that affect gait patterns
• currently receiving physical therapy