title: Correlation between single limb support phase and self-evaluation questionnaires in knee osteoarthritis populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between single limb support (SLS) phase (% of gait cycle) and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36 Health Survey) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study was employed with 125 adults with bilateral medial compartment symptomatic knee OA who underwent a physical and radiographic evaluation. Velocity, step length and SLS were assessed by a computerised mat (GAITRite). Patients completed the WOMAC and SF-36 Health Survey questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis examined the correlations between SLS and both questionnaires, between Kellgren & Lawrence (K&L) scores and both questionnaires and between SLS correlations and K&L correlations. We found significantly stronger correlations between SLS and WOMAC-pain, WOMAC-function, the SF-36 pain sub-category, velocity and step length than between K&L scores and these parameters (Pearson's r = 0.50 vs. 0.26, 0.53 vs. 0.34, 0.50 vs. 023, 0.81 vs. 0.33, 0.77 vs. 0.37, respectively; all p < 0.05). Significant differences in SLS were found over WOMAC-pain, WOMAC-function and SF-36 overall score quartiles (p < 0.05 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend integrating SLS as an objective parameter in the comprehensive evaluation of patients with knee OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. debbi.ronen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ronen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Debi
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mor
authors.forename: Ganit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agar
authors.forename: Eytan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Debbi
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Halperin
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haim
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elbaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires