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In this study, the effects of an exercise therapy comprising yoga exercises and medial-thrust gait (YogaMT) on lower-extremity kinetics, pain, and function in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis were investigated. Fifty-nine patients were randomly allocated to three treatment groups: (a) the YogaMT group practiced yoga exercises and medial thrust gait, (b) the knee-strengthening group performed quadriceps- and hamstring-strengthening exercises, and (c) the treadmill walking group practiced normal treadmill walking in 12 supervised sessions. The adduction and flexion moments of the hip, knee, and ankle; pain intensity; and 2-min walking test were assessed before and after treatment and at 1-month follow-up. The YogaMT group experienced a significant reduction in knee adduction moment. All groups showed significant improvement in pain and function. The YogaMT may reduce medial knee load in patients with knee osteoarthritis in the short term. A larger clinical trial is required to investigate the long-term outcomes of this intervention.

Background. Medial thrust (MT) gait is a nonsurgical approach for reducing the knee adduction moment (KAM) in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, its usefulness is indeterminate due to scarcity of research about changes in lower extremity kinetics and the ground reaction force (GRF) which have been investigated in this study. Materials and methods. Twenty patients (6 males, 14 females, age: 56.2±6.2 years) with medial knee osteo­arthritis participated in this cross-sectional study. A 12-camera motion analysis system and two force plates recorded kinematic and GRF data while participants walked barefoot along a 12m path with 1) their regular gait pattern and 2) MT gait pattern. The first peak adduction and flexion moments of the hip, knee, and ankle, and the sagittal and frontal GRF were measured. The center of pressure (CoP) location in the mediolateral direction at first KAM peak was also determined. Results. MT gait significantly reduced the first KAM peak (mean difference= 169.7, p<0.001) and the hip flexion moment (mean difference: 82.6, p= 0.020) compared to normal gait. The mediolateral CoP significantly shifted laterally during MT gait compared to normal gait (mean difference: -12% foot width, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in other kinetics variables between the two gait patterns (p>0.05). Conclusions. 1. Our findings show that MT gait can reduce the KAM with no significant increase in the GRF and other lower extremity moments. 2. The results suggest that the reduced KAM associated with MT gait is caused by a lateral shift of the CoP, resulting in a reduced GRF moment arm.

Background: Literatures indicate a strong association between biomechanical factors, i.e., increased knee adduction moment (KAM) and knee osteoarthritis. Laboratory studies showed that yoga exercises and medial thrust (MT) gait pattern could reduce the KAM. However, there is a lack of clinical evidence to support their efficacy compared to current exercise therapy regimens. Objectives: This randomized control trial will compare the effects of combined yoga and the MT gait training and conventional knee exercises on gait biomechanics, pain, and function in people with knee OA. Methods: Forty patients with knee OA will be randomly allocated to two treatment groups: (1) the yoga and MT gait group (YogaMT), and (2) the conventional physiotherapy group. Exercise therapy for the YogaMT group includes the MT gait training, and the yoga exercises, and for the conventional physiotherapy group, conventional knee strengthening exercises. The amount of KAM during gait, pain severity, and the functional score will be assessed at baseline, two days and one month after 12 sessions of treatment. Conclusions: Physiotherapists should explore etiology-based interventions targeting the contributing factors to the development and progression of OA. The results of this RCT may help suggest a more effective treatment for patients with knee OA.