Effect of a walking program on gait characteristics in patients with osteoarthritis

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Abstract
This paper reports the results of a study of the gait of 102 patients with osteoarthritis of theknee. Functional status was measured by a 6‐min test of walking distance; the stride characteristics associated with the walk test were assessed. Stride characteristics were measured by a StrideAnalyzer. Patients were randomized to an 8‐week educational and walking program (the intervention group) or to a weekly telephone survey (the control group). The intervention group patients had a 15% increase in walking distance (P < 0.0001) and increases of 9.1% in stride length at freewalking speeds (P < 0.007) and 17% in stride length at fast walking speeds (P < 0.01) comparedtothe control group. The results of this study have shown that the walking and educational program was effective in improving gait function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.