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The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the temporo-spatial gait characteristics of healthy elderly people with those osteoarthritis patients. 100 patients reported knee osteoarthritis, diagnosed at the hospital or clinic located in Daegu and Kyungbuk province and 100 normal elderly subjects were participated in this study. Temporal and spatial parameters of gait were analysed for using the computerized GAITRite system. The system integrates specific components of locomotions to provide a single, numerical representation of gait, the Functional Ambulation Performance score. Differences in gait characteristics between the two groups were examined using a correlated t-test and Pearson Correlation(p<.05). Significant differences were observed between the groups for temporal parameters(step time, double support time, stance phase, mean velocity) and spatial parameters(step length, step/extremity ratio)(p<.05). Also there was difference in the functional ambulation performance score between normal elderly subjects and knee osteoarthritis patients(p<.05). Consequently, it may help detect the abnormal gait pattern indicated the main problem in degenerative knee osteoarthritis patients as well as provide data analysing the pathokinesiologic components by comparing normal elderly.
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