Movement patterns and osteoarthritis
Lead researcher and their location/institution
Yi Wan, University of Bath.
Who can get involved
- Aged 45 – 65 years.
- Diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.
- Body mass index (BMI) ≤ 40.
- Current knee pain (≥ 2 out of 10).
- Currently not using an orthotic (for example, a knee brace or shoe insoles.).
Type of study
Observational study involving surveys, exercise trials and recordings of movement.
Location
Bath
About the project
The way in which we walk influences the load placed on our joints and may increase the risk of developing joint problems later in life. Suboptimal foot placement during daily activities may increase the load placed on the knee in people in with knee osteoarthritis, resulting in damage to the knee accumulating over a long period of time. Changing movement patterns such as altering foot progression angle during daily activities (e.g. walking, sit-to-stand, stair climbing) could reduce knee joint loading, which might reduce pain, minimise damage to joints and increase overall wellbeing and quality of life. This study aims to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different foot orientations on knee joint loading and pain reduction across a range of daily activities.
What is involved?
- Attend a single data collection session at the University of Bath.
- Complete the Oxford Knee Score questionnaire.
- Perform walking, stair climbing and sit-to-stand exercises using altered foot positions.
- Exercises will be recorded using a camera-based motion capture system and force plate.
- You will be provided with a personalised gait analysis report after completing data collection.
Find out more
To find out more, please contact Yi Wan on yw2984@bath.ac.uk.