Walking energetics and abductor strength are associated with physical activity in older women with hip osteoarthritis.
Kharma C Foucher, Chun-Hao Huang, Burcu Aydemir
PMID 33578307WHAT IT FOUND
Higher walking energy use was associated with lower self-reported activity, more sedentary time and less light activity in older women with hip osteoarthritis.
Stronger hip abductors were associated with higher reported activity, but not with walking energy use.
Key findings
01Higher walking energy use was associated with lower self-reported activity, more sedentary time and less light activity.
02Greater ipsilateral hip abductor strength was associated with higher self-reported activity, but not with objectively measured activity.
03Hip abductor strength was not associated with walking energy use, so the proposed link between weakness and costly walking was not supported.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
30 women were analysed from one hundred nine screened, and the small sample plus variability in accelerometer data meant some associations could have been missed. The design was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that walking energy use or abductor strength caused lower activity, or which came first. Participants had to be able to tolerate the testing and walk without assistive devices, which may have selected for higher-functioning women. The sample included only women, so results may not apply to men with hip osteoarthritis. The study did not measure trunk motion, the assumed compensation for abductor weakness, or radiographic osteoarthritis severity. It did not examine behavioural factors that influence physical activity, and heterogeneity in the sample may have diluted some associations.
Declared interests
Research support is listed as NIH extramural. The authors state they have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence this work.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that reducing walking energy cost or strengthening hip abductors will increase physical activity. The study was cross-sectional, and it found no association between hip abductor strength and energy use during walking.