Abstract

Using the non-affected leg as stable frame of reference for the affected leg in gait assessment in knee osteoarthritis (KO) fails due to compensatory mechanisms. Assessing the cyclical movements of the upper extremities in a frequency-controlled repetitive punching task may provide an alternative frame of reference in gait assessment in patients with KO. Eleven participants with unilateral KO and eleven healthy controls were asked to perform treadmill walking and repetitive punching. The KO group showed more predictable (p = 0.020) and less automatized (p = 0.007) movement behavior than controls during treadmill walking. During repetitive punching, the KO group showed a similar degree of predictability (p = 0.784) but relative more automatized movement behavior (p = 0.013). Thus, the predictability of the movement behavior of the upper extremities during repetitive punching seems unaffected by KO and could provide an alternative frame of reference in gait assessment in patients with KO.

摘要

由于代偿机制，在膝骨关节炎 (KO) 步态评估中使用未受影响的腿作为受影响腿的稳定参考系是失败的。在频率控制的重复出拳任务中评估上肢的周期性运动可能为 KO 患者的步态评估提供替代参考框架。11 名单侧 KO 参与者和 11 名健康对照者被要求进行跑步机行走和重复拳击。与对照组相比，KO 组在跑步机行走过程中表现出更可预测 ( p  = 0.020) 和更少自动化 ( p  = 0.007) 的运动行为。在重复出拳过程中，KO 组表现出相似程度的可预测性 ( p  = 0.784)，但相对更自动化的运动行为 ( p  = 0.013)。因此，重复出拳过程中上肢运动行为的可预测性似乎不受 KO 的影响，并且可以为 KO 患者的步态评估提供替代参考框架。