The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high-velocity (HV) and low-velocity (LV) resistance training on gait kinematics and kinetics in patients with hip osteoarthritis.
This was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Forty-six women with hip osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to the HV (n = 23) or LV (n = 23) training group. The participants underwent an 8-week home-based the HV or LV resistance-training program, involving the hip and knee muscles. Outcome measures included gait kinematics and kinetics using 3-dimensional analyses, muscle strength and power, the Harris Hip Score, and hip pain using the visual analog scale.
There was no significant difference in changes for any of the outcome measures between groups. After the training session, muscle power, walking speed, and cadence significantly increased only in the HV group, whereas stride length and the peak hip extension angle during gait significantly increased, and pain on the visual analog scale and the peak ankle dorsiflexion moment during gait significantly decreased only in the LV group. Muscle strength and Harris Hip Score significantly increased in both groups.
The results of this study may indicate that the potential effect of resistance training on abnormal gait pattern depends on movement velocities during training.