Abstract
[Purpose] The aim of this study was to elucidate factors related to the gait velocity of patients with severe bilateral knee osteoarthritis. [Participants and Methods] Thirteen female patients were examined. Gait velocity, stride, swing phase time, stance phase time, floor reaction forces, knee joint angles and angular velocities were measured or calculated using a three-dimensional-motion analysis system. Based on knee joint ROM, each lower limb was classified as the less ROM side or the more ROM side, and these groups were compared. A step-wise multiple regression analysis was performed with gait velocity as the dependent variable. [Results] Factors related to gait velocity were determined as the anterior-posterior ground reaction force's propulsive mean amplitude of the more ROM side, and the swing phase maximum knee flexion angle of the less ROM side. [Conclusion] The results suggest that gait velocity is related to the more ROM side propulsive force from mid-stance to pre-swing and the less ROM side maximum knee joint flexion angle in mid-swing.
