Biomechanical Properties Required for the Reduction of Knee Adduction Moment Using Gait Modification in Individuals With Obesity

Objective: To investigate the effects of gait modification on the knee lever arm (KLA) in individuals with obesity. Design: This study was designed as a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study to investigate the impact of gait modifications on knee joint loading in individuals with obesity. A convenience sample was used, and no formal sample size calculation was performed. Setting: Single university hospital. Participants: Fifty-three individuals (N=53) with obesity who had no history of lower-limb surgery, musculoskeletal disorders, or neuromuscular diseases affecting gait. Interventions: Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Three-dimensional gait analyses were performed in individuals with obesity under 3 conditions: walking at a comfortable speed, with their toes outward (toe-out gait), and with a wider step width (wide-base gait). The peak knee adduction moment (KAM), area under the curve of KAM during stance (KAM impulse), and KLA were measured. Considering the relative position between foot placement and the center of gravity by gait modifications, the KLA was divided into the mediolateral shift of the center of pressure (center of pressure component of KLA [KLA-COP]) and the mediolateral tilt of the ground reaction force vector (tilt component of KLA [KLA-tilt]). Results: =-.66). Conclusions: The results show that reducing the KLA-COP and increasing the KLA-tilt with a lateral shift in foot placement acted as abduction and adduction moments, respectively. In particular, changing the hip kinematics can enhance the effects of gait modification in individuals with obesity.