Which spatiotemporal parameters are predicted by commonly used osteoarthritis questionnaires in clinical practice? An exploratory study.

BACKGROUND

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) leads to altered gait patterns, yet the relationship between objective spatiotemporal gait parameters and subjective clinical assessment tools remains unclear. This study aimed to examined the relationship between spatiotemporal gait parameters and commonly utilized KOA assessment questionnaires in clinical practice.

METHODS

A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted with 30 patients diagnosed with Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 3 bilateral KOA, randomly selected from a university hospital outpatient clinic. Demographic data, including age and body mass index, were recorded. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were assessed using instrumented gait analysis. Disease severity was evaluated using validated self-reported questionnaires: the Lequesne Index, Oxford Knee Score, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and WOMAC subscales (Pain, Joint Stiffness, Function, and Total Score). Correlation and regression analyses were performed to identify associations between gait parameters and osteoarthritis severity scores.

RESULTS

Significant correlations were found between gait parameters and osteoarthritis scales. Total double support duration was positively associated with the Lequesne (r = 0.511, p = 0.009), Oxford (r=-0.455, p = 0.022), and WOMAC (r = 0.448, p = 0.025), indicating a link between prolonged double support time and disease severity. Step length was negatively correlated with PCS (r=-0.477, p = 0.016), suggesting that greater pain catastrophizing was associated with reduced step length. Regression analysis revealed that total double support time was the strongest predictor of the Lequesne (36.4%), Oxford (43.6%), and WOMAC (36.4%), highlighting its clinical significance.

CONCLUSION

Spatiotemporal gait parameters, particularly total double support time and step length, are closely associated with patient-reported KOA symptom severity. These parameters may serve as objective clinical indicators for monitoring disease progression and informing rehabilitation strategies.