Influence of Different Grades of Knee Osteoarthritis on Foot Posture

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the major causes of pain and physical disability. The assessment and treatment of knee osteoarthritis is mostly localized to knee, however compensatory biomechanical changes occurring at knee are also altering foot posture which is further influencing the progression of OA. So the present study has been designed to investigate the relationship between different grades of knee osteoarthritis and foot posture. In the present study 40 patients (80 knees) were taken and divided into four groups according to Kellgen and Lawrence Scale on the basis of radiographs. The foot posture was assessed using the foot posture index (FPI-6). Coefficient of correlation was used to investigate the relationship between grades of knee OA and foot posture. ANOVA was used for comparison of foot posture index scores among the different grades. Further analysis was done using Tukey HSD post hoc test. Findings of the study suggested a significant positive correlation between grades of Knee Osteoarthritis and foot posture index (r=0.84, p< 0.0001). The study concluded that Grade 3 and Grade 4 of Knee Osteoarthritis exhibits either a pronated or highly pronated foot, while near normal foot was observed in grade 1 and 2. Thus compensatory foot changes are more prominent in grade 3 and 4 of OA.