Kinematic Characteristics of the Gait of Patients with Low Grade Osteoarthritis in the Frontal and Sagittal Planes

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic characteristics of patients with low grade knee osteoarthritis using three-dimensional gait analysis. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 44 patients with low grade knee osteoarthritis and 50 healthy adults. [Results] A large knee adduction moment at mid stance and a decrease in the range of knee motion in the sagittal plane were found in the osteoarthritis group. There were differences between the groups in ankle inverse motion at the loading response. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that the kinematic characteristics of gait of patients with low grade osteoarthritis are different from healthy adults in the frontal and sagittal planes.