Plantar Pressure Distribution Patterns During Gait and Functional Mobility in Early-Stage Knee Osteoarthritis: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is characterised by altered gait mechanics, which can lead to significant functional impairments. This study aims to investigate plantar pressure distribution during walking and assess functional mobility in patients with early-stage KOA, providing insights for targeted therapeutic interventions.

METHODS

Eighteen women with KOA were matched with 18 healthy controls for this study. We assessed plantar pressure distribution, relative phase durations during the stance phase, and performance on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Independent sample t-tests were employed to identify group differences, with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Patients with KOA exhibited significantly lower maximum plantar pressure in the Toe 1 (p < 0.01), medial heel (p < 0.01), and lateral heel (p < 0.01) regions, while demonstrating higher pressure in the Metatarsal 4 (p < 0.01) and midfoot (p < 0.01) areas. Furthermore, KOA patients spent less time in the initial contact (p = 0.01), foot-flat (p < 0.01), and forefoot push-off (p = 0.03) phases but more time in the forefoot plantarflexion phase (p < 0.01). Additionally, KOA patients demonstrated longer TUG times (p < 0.01), indicating reduced functional mobility.

CONCLUSIONS

Early-stage KOA patients display distinct patterns of plantar pressure distribution and impaired functional mobility compared with healthy controls. These findings highlight the necessity for interventions aimed at addressing altered gait mechanics in KOA, which could help mitigate mobility limitations and enhance patient outcomes.