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Clinically significant effects of gait modification on knee pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation
January 1, 2024
Hiroyuki Tamura et al. (6 authors)
Meta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewJournal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the level of evidence for the clinically significant effects of gait modification on knee pain and determine if these effects exceed the minimal clinically important difference (MCID).

Results Summary

The meta-analysis found that gait modification had significant effects on knee pain (p=0.02), but the quality of evidence was very low. Some studies suggested that foot-focused gait modification may have clinically significant effects exceeding the MCID.

Population

Individuals with knee pain, likely due to knee osteoarthritis (specific population details not provided).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Walking
decrease
knee pain
patients with knee osteoarthritis
-
is effective against
#1
gait modification
decrease
knee pain
patients with knee osteoarthritis
-
can relieve
#2
gait modification
decrease
knee pain
-
p= 0.02
have significant effects
#3
gait modification
increase
minimal clinically important difference (MCID)
-
-
effects were greater than
#4
gait modification
decrease
knee pain
-
-
may have clinically significant effects
#5
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Knee pain is the main symptom of knee osteoarthritis. Walking is effective against knee pain, and some studies have shown that gait modification can also relieve this condition. However, the quality of evidence for the clinically significant effects of gait modification on knee pain has not been examined. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the level of evidence for the clinically significant effects of gait modification on knee pain and determine if the effects are greater than the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). METHODS: We comprehensively searched electronic databases such as MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Intervention studies with experimental groups who received gait modification and control groups who did not were evaluated. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system was used to assess the level of evidence. RESULTS: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. All were included in the systematic review and two in the meta-analysis. Results showed that gait modification have significant effects (p= 0.02), and the quality of evidence was very low. However, several studies have revealed that the effects of gait modification, when used as a foot-focused intervention, were greater than the MCID. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that there is a lack of high-quality evidence that supports the general efficacy of gait modification. Although based on low-quality evidence, when applied to the foot, it may have clinically significant effects.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansOsteoarthritis, KneeWalkingPainGait
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality70/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.25
Normalized Score0.60
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