Title
Lower Extremity Walking Mechanics of Young Individuals with Asymptomatic Varus Knee Alignment
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2009
Publication Source
Journal of Orthopaedic Research
Abstract
Varus knee alignment is associated with an increased risk for developing medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). Medial knee OA is commonly associated with altered walking mechanics in the frontal and sagittal planes, as well as altered ground reaction forces. It is unknown whether these mechanics are present in young, asymptomatic individuals with varus knees. We expected that varus‐aligned individuals would generally present with frontal plane mechanics that were similar to those reported for individuals with medial knee OA. The gait mechanics of 17 asymptomatic individuals with varus knees and 17 healthy, normally aligned controls were recorded. Gait parameters associated with medial knee OA were compared between groups. The individuals with varus knees exhibited greater knee external adduction moments, knee adduction, eversion, and lateral ground reaction force than the normally aligned individuals. In addition, those with varus knees also demonstrated increased knee flexion and external knee flexor moments during midstance. These results suggest that individuals with varus knees exhibit some, but not all, of the altered mechanics seen in medial knee OA.
Inclusive pages
1414-1419
ISBN/ISSN
0736-0266
Copyright
Copyright © 2009, Orthopaedic Research Society
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
27
Issue
11
Peer Reviewed
yes
eCommons Citation
Barrios, Joaquin Alberto; Davis, Irene S.; Higginson, Jill S.; and Royer, Todd D., "Lower Extremity Walking Mechanics of Young Individuals with Asymptomatic Varus Knee Alignment" (2009). Physical Therapy Faculty Publications. 63.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/dpt_fac_pub/63
Comments
Permission documentation is on file.