Gait, balance and falls risk in people with knee osteoarthritis before and after knee replacement surgery

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Falls are among the most common cause of injury and hospital admissions in older people in Australia, and due to the ageing of the population, are a major public health concern. The detection of factors associated with falls may allow clinicians and professionals to implement effective falls prevention programs targeted to those at greatest risk, such as older people with knee osteoarthritis (knee OA). This study will assess the falls risk of individuals with knee osteoarthritis before and at 4 and 12 months following knee replacement surgery using the a series of validated tests (the Physiological Profile Assessment). Additionally, this study will investigate walking patterns (including the minimum foot clearance and the swing limb kinematics and kinetics) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (prior to undergoing knee replacement and 4 and 12 months following surgery) and compare them to an asymptomatic age-matched control group. As such this study will identify the balance and gait characteristics that may predispose older people with knee osteoarthritis to tripping and falling. The research hypotheses are: (i) Patients with knee osteoarthritis will demonstrate different falls risk before and after knee replacement. (ii) Patients with knee osteoarthritis will demonstrate altered minimum toe clearance and swing limb mechanics compared to age matched controls. (iii) Patients with knee osteoarthritis will show different minimum toe clearance and swing limb biomechanics before and after knee replacement surgery.