title: Gait analysis in patients after unilateral hip arthroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint pathology and the main cause of disability in elderly persons. Arthroplasty still remains the most effective treatment of OA. Routine post-operative patient assessment does not include an objective functional examination leading to conclusions regarding the need of further rehabilitation. This role is played by gait analysis performed in patients after arthroplasty. The aim of the study was to conduct a quantitative and qualitative analysis of selected gait parameters in patients after unilateral cementless hip arthroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved a group of 16 patients who were examined before and after hip arthroplasty. Gait analysis was conducted before surgery and at least 6 months after the procedure. The Smart DX BTS system for spatial gait analysis was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duration of the stance phase on the affected side was 63.8 [% gait cycle] and was significantly shorter (p<0.05) than the phase on the unaffected side, with a duration of 69.4 [% gait cycle]. After surgery, the duration of swing phase on the unaffected side increased (p<0.05) from 30.6 to 35.1 [% gait cycle]. A statistically significant change was also found in the double support phase (the arthrotic limb as the front limb), which was markedly shortened. The average length of a single and double step, cadence, average gait velocity, and the velocity of leg swing in the swing phase increased. The range of hip mobility increased in all planes, especially in the sagittal plane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The space and time gait parameters with regard to the operated leg after hip arthroplasty indicate an improvement as compared with the baseline results; however, they do not reach the values found in healthy persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Traumatology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kopeć
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Traumatology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kusz
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Motor Behaviour, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sobota
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Motor Behaviour, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Traumatology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mierzwiński
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Traumatology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology