Effect of Knee Pain on Walking Biomechanics

The goal of this study is to determine if pain in one knee influences loading of the other knee during different types of walking. The main questions it aims to answer are:How does unilateral knee pain affect contralateral knee joint loading during different types of walking?Does movement and loading change at the hips, knees, and ankles during prolonged walking in persons with painful knee osteoarthritis?Participants will:Fill out questionnaires/surveysComplete clinical examinationsWalking on a treadmill under different types of walking conditionsReceive two knee injections For comparison purposes, researchers will also enroll healthy participants.

Inclusion Criteria for Knee Osteoarthritis Arm:At least 45 years oldUnilateral knee pain with walking that averages at least 3 out of 10 on a numeric pain rating scaleUnilateral knee stiffness that lasts less than 30 minutes after periods of inactivityUnilateral symptoms on most days for at least the past 3 monthsExclusion Criteria for Knee Osteoarthritis Arm:History of lower body surgeryHistory of lower body traumaOpiate use within the past 3 monthsNarcotic use within the past 3 monthsKnown medical condition that affects walking mechanics, besides knee osteoarthritisKnown medical condition that affects pain perceptionInability to walk for 30 minutes without using an assistive deviceBody weight greater than 300 poundsKnown allergy to adhesivesHigh risk for a cardiovascular eventCurrently pregnantAnticoagulant use within the past 3 monthsIntraarticular knee injection within the past 3 monthsKnown history of hypersensitivity to local anesthetics of the amide typeHistory of lower body pain or injury, besides knee osteoarthritis, within the past 6 monthsInclusion Criteria for Healthy Arm:At least 45 years oldNo lower body pain or injury within the past 6 monthsExclusion Criteria for Healthy Arm:History of lower body surgeryHistory of lower body traumaOpiate use within the past 3 monthsNarcotic use within the past 3 monthsKnown medical condition that affects walking mechanicsKnown medical condition that affects pain perceptionInability to walk for 30 minutes without using an assistive deviceBody weight greater than 300 poundsKnown allergy to adhesivesHigh risk for a cardiovascular eventCurrently pregnant