Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: August | Volume: 8 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 151-158
Evaluation of Age, Gender, Body Mass Index and Gait Characteristics in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients
Shabnam Joshi1, Shailendra Kumar Singh2, Jaspreet Singh Vij3
1Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physiotherapy, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar-125001 Haryana, India
2Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar-125001 Haryana, India
3Associate Professor, University College of Physiotherapy, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot-151203, Punjab, India
Corresponding Author: Shabnam Joshi
ABSTRACT
Background: Knee osteoarthritis is among one of the most common disabling conditions worldwide. It is associated with a number of risk factors such as age, gender and obesity. The walking pattern of individuals is also affected during the disease progression.
Objective: To evaluate certain factors such as age, gender and Body Mass Index along with gait characteristics such as step length, stride length, cadence and walking speed in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: A total of 84 subjects above forty years of age with orthopedician diagnosed osteoarthritis of knee who reported to the Physiotherapy out-patient department of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar were included in the study. The age, height, weight was noted and Body Mass Index was calculated. Step and stride length, cadence and walking speed were measured using footprint method. Independent t-test was used to compare the above characteristics between males and females and gait characteristics between different age groups using SPSS software.
Results: Female gender and obesity displayed a greater association with knee osteoarthritis as 39.5% males and 60.4% females belonged to the age group of 41-50 years while 46% males and 64% females had Body Mass Index>25-30 kg/m2. Males had longer step length, stride length and faster walking speed than females. Elder age group had lower cadence and slower walking speeds.
Conclusion: Age, gender, Body Mass Index and gait characteristics should be considered while preparing exercise regimes along with inclusion of weight control programmes in knee osteoarthritis patients to achieve better outcomes.
Key words: Knee osteoarthritis, gait, obesity, BMI, age, gender