The effect of walking interventions on biomechanical knee osteoarthritis outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
Walking interventions elicit minimal-to-no change in discrete biomechanical metrics of joint loading for individuals with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with knee OA in experimental studies of walking interventions18 studies
- Comparison
- Walking interventions in knee OA
- Outcome
- Biomechanical outcomes: first peak KAM, KAM impulse, peak KFM, gait speed (Hedge's g SMD)
Methodological detailsmeta-regression, QualSyst quality assessment, Databases (CINAHL, Embase, PubMED, SportDiscus, Scopus) searched through October 2024
- Meta-regression
- QualSyst quality assessment
- Databases (CINAHL, Embase, PubMED, SportDiscus, Scopus) searched through October 2024
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Biomechanical effects of walking interventions (meta-analyses of 13 studies)
First peak knee adduction moment (KAM), very small increase, SMD
0.18
KAM impulse, no effect, SMD
−0.01
Peak knee flexion moment (KFM), small increase, adjusted SMD
0.23
Gait speed, small increase, SMD
0.35
Further pooled results
Meta-regression of walking parameters on outcomes
- Longer interventions associated with increased KFM, β
- 0.02
- Higher walking frequency associated with increased gait speed, β
- 0.37
- No other parameters associated with biomechanical outcomes
Walking intervention parameters
- Intervention length, weeks (SD=25.9)
- 19.4
- Minutes per session (SD=9.7)
- 24.6
- Sessions per week (SD=1.7)
- 3.2
- Most interventions specified self-selected intensity
Original publication
The effect of walking interventions on biomechanical knee osteoarthritis outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 14 May 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →