Effect of contralateral and ipsilateral cane usage on gait symmetry in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Pathological gait in knee osteoarthritis (OA) cause changes in spatial-temporal parameters and result in gait asymmetry. It is not yet known how contralateral and ipsilateral cane usage, assessed through gait spatial-temporal parameters, impacts knee OA. This study assessed gait symmetry and spatial-temporal parameters while ipsilateral and contralateral cane usage in patients with knee OA. Cross-sectional studies on consecutive 50-70-year-old patients with knee OA were conducted. Subjects were asked to walk on a 10-m track with no walking aids, with contralateral cane usage and with ipsilateral cane usage and were recorded with video cameras to assess gait spatial-temporal parameters and symmetry. Forty samples were analysed (mean subject age, 63.5 years); prevalence in women (95%) greater than men (5%), with the most of knee OA is KL III (55%). There were no significant differences in the symmetry ratio between the three conditions. There were significant differences in gait speed, step time, stance phase, swing phase, step length and double support with contralateral and ipsilateral cane usage compared with that without walking aid usage. There was no significant difference in gait symmetry with contralateral and ipsilateral cane usage in patients with knee OA.