Effect of retrowalking and forward walking in ramp for gait and balance training in knee osteoarthritis subjects

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the effect of forward walking versus retro walking on gait and balance training among OA patients. The study setting is Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, SIMATS Chennai, and the sample technique used is simple random sampling. The sample size for this study is 30 participants. The study design is a quasi-experimental study, meaning that the participants are not randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Instead, the participants are assigned based on some characteristic or criteria that may affect the outcome. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, convenient samples of 30 knee osteoarthritis patients' subjects were collected for this investigation. Patients were allocated into two groups namely group A and group B. In Group A, 15 participants received the traditional physical treatment, IFT, and forward walking in a ramp; in Group B, 15 subjects received traditional physical therapy, IFT, and retro walking in a ramp. Pretest value as timed up and go test was made before and after commencing the therapy for both the group A and B. The mean scores for the Timed up and go pretest and for group A are 17.13 and 15.93, respectively, while the mean scores for group B are 17.60 and 15.27. . Statistical analysis of for time up and go test revealed that there was a statistically significant difference noted between Groups A and B respectively. Our study shows that retro walking in ramp has highly significant gait and balance among osteoarthritis patients.