Gait Retraining via Visual Feedback to Reduce Loading in Knee Osteoarthritis

Walking is recommended as a safe, accessible, and effective form of physical activity, yet pain during walking is a frequent complaint in persons with knee OA. Gait modifications that lower external knee adduction moment (KAM), a determinant of medial knee load, and pain may serve to promote physical activity and delay OA progression. Impact attenuation during walking can be quantified by a reduction in tibial acceleration (TA), which measures the impact on the tibia from the ground and is recorded by a small lightweight accelerometer attached on the tibia. In theory, reducing TA may attenuate lower limb impact, thereby reducing both KAM and knee pain. We will pilot-test a novel gait-retraining intervention to reduce KAM, by targeting TA reduction via visual feedback. Our central hypothesis is that individuals with knee OA can adapt their gait patterns to lower TA and KAM, and consequently reduce knee load and pain.