Effects of knee osteoarthritis severity on gait parameters, balance and knee functional situations

Guneri S. Effects of Knee Osteoarthritis Severity on Gait Parameters, Balance, and Knee Functional Situations. Hacettepe University, Graduate School of Health Science, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Program Doctorate Thesis, Ankara, 2018. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of disease severity on gait parameters, balance, knee joint position sense, muscle strength, pain, daily living activities, quality of life and functional situation in subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In accordance with this purpose, study was completed with participation of 64 individuals who were 20 asymptomatic, 22 mild OA and 22 moderate OA. Subject's gait parameters was assessed with VICON 3-dimensional gait analysis system, knee flexion and extansion muscle strength and knee joint proprioception with Biodex System3 Pro. Balance was assessed with Berg Balance Scale, daily living activities and quality of life with Knee Outcome Survey-ADLS (KOS-ADLS),Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), functional situation with 50 mt. walking, stair climb test, time-up and go and sit-to-stand test, pain with visual analog scale (VAS). A decrease was found in ankle, knee and hip adductor moment in the mild OA group (p<0.017). In the sagittal plane, while an increase was found in anterior pelvic tilt and ankle dorsiflexion angle change in the moderate OA group (p<0.017), knee and hip angle changes were similar in all groups(p>0.05). Also, ıt was found that the temporo-spatial values of gait which are cadence, stride length, gait speed decreased and double support time, stance phase increased in the moderate OA group (p<0.017). Activity pain and quantity of error in the 30° extension target angle test were found to be more in the moderate OA group (p<0.017). It was found that muscle strength, balance and functional status decreased with increasing severity of OA (p<0.017). While daily living activities were affected by the severity of OA (p<0.05), the quality of life was not (p>0.05). The results show that kinetic parameters, muscle strength, balance and knee functions were affected in the mild knee OA, and that change in temporo-spatial and kinematic parameters of gait started in the moderate knee OA. Keywords: osteoarthritis, knee, gait