To study the gait characteristics of different syndrome types based on musculature zones of the knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to discuss the application of modern biomechanical technology in objective study on syndrome differentiation which is based on musculature zones.
Thirty knees out of 19 patients suffering from KOA with the different musculature zone syndrome types were measured the step angle, the heel impulse, the internal and external rotation figures and the percentage of the maximum vertical ground reaction time in the total time of the supporting period by using the Plantar Pressure Measurement System.
In the knees with abnormal musculature zones, the figures of step angle and the heel impulse of Foot Shaoyang Meridian and three foot yin meridians were significantly increased than normal (all P<0.05), while those figures of Foot Yangming Meridian were normal; in the knees of Foot Yangming Meridian with abnormal musculature zones, the external rotation mean figure in the midstance was significantly increased than normal (P<0.05); in the knees of Foot Shaoyang Meridian with abnormal musculature zones, the internal rotation mean figure in the propulsion was significantly increased than normal (P<0.05); in the knees of the three foot yin meridians with abnormal musculature zones, the mean external rotation figure in propulsion was significantly increased than normal (P<0.05); in the knees of the Foot Yangming Meridian with abnormal musculature zones, the time of maximum vertical ground reaction was significantly delayed (P<0.05).
The figures of the gait index in KOA patients with different musculature zone types are different, including the step angle, heel impulse, the internal and external rotation figures, the time of the maximum vertical ground reaction and so on, which could be used as the objective basis of syndrome differentiation based on musculature zones for KOA patients. Therefore, biomechanical technology can be applied in the syndrome differentiation based on musculature zones for KOA patients.