Jesse M Charlton1, Natasha M Krowchuk1, Gillian L Hatfield2, Jordan A Guenette3, Michael A Hunt4. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Motion Analysis and Biofeedback Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 2. Motion Analysis and Biofeedback Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Kinesiology, University of the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack, BC, Canada. 3. Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Heart and Lung Innovation, Providence Health Care Research Institute, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 4. Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Motion Analysis and Biofeedback Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: michael.hunt@ubc.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Gait modification is a treatment approach often used for a variety of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal pathologies. Gait modification is commonly applied to a single limb, as is done with foot rotation (FR) in people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the extent to which gait changes observed in the trained limb are also exhibited in the untrained, contralateral limb during a training session is unknown. RESEARCH QUESTION: The purpose of this study was to examine the within-limb FR differences across four unilateral FR modifications compared to natural walking. METHODS: Sixteen individuals with KOA walked on a treadmill while performing four different FR conditions: 10° toe-in, 0°, 10° toe-out and 20° toe-out. Motion capture was conducted to track FR magnitude after five minutes of practice. RESULTS: The change in contralateral FR angle compared to natural walking significantly increased during toe-in 10° walking (3.1°) compared to toe-out -10° and -20° walking (-1.2° and -1.5°, respectively). As expected, the ipsilateral FR angle was significantly different between all conditions. SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that small, but statistically significant changes in the untrained contralateral limb FR are observed during FR training of the ipsilateral limb. This may indicate a desire for symmetry, or a compensation when modifying the ipsilateral limb. Therefore, clinicians may need to maintain baseline FR magnitudes in the untrained limb when a patient exhibits unilateral KOA characteristics or lateral compartment KOA.
BACKGROUND: Gait modification is a treatment approach often used for a variety of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal pathologies. Gait modification is commonly applied to a single limb, as is done with foot rotation (FR) in people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the extent to which gait changes observed in the trained limb are also exhibited in the untrained, contralateral limb during a training session is unknown. RESEARCH QUESTION: The purpose of this study was to examine the within-limb FR differences across four unilateral FR modifications compared to natural walking. METHODS: Sixteen individuals with KOA walked on a treadmill while performing four different FR conditions: 10° toe-in, 0°, 10° toe-out and 20° toe-out. Motion capture was conducted to track FR magnitude after five minutes of practice. RESULTS: The change in contralateral FR angle compared to natural walking significantly increased during toe-in 10° walking (3.1°) compared to toe-out -10° and -20° walking (-1.2° and -1.5°, respectively). As expected, the ipsilateral FR angle was significantly different between all conditions. SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that small, but statistically significant changes in the untrained contralateral limb FR are observed during FR training of the ipsilateral limb. This may indicate a desire for symmetry, or a compensation when modifying the ipsilateral limb. Therefore, clinicians may need to maintain baseline FR magnitudes in the untrained limb when a patient exhibits unilateral KOA characteristics or lateral compartment KOA.