sing the members from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort, a research team from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University examined the frequency of varus (bow-legged) and valgus (knock-kneed) thrust in the group and differences between two racial groups: African-Americans and Caucasians. Just over 3,500 patients were evaluated, including approximately 600 African-Americans and 3,000 Caucasians. These participants were split into two other groups, those with osteoarthritis (OA) in one or both knees and those without.
Because there has been past research to support a link between varus thrust and an increased risk for knee osteoarthritis progression, this subsequent study has significance beyond just demographic statistics. Varus thrust can be seen in someone’s walking pattern and involves the development or worsening of a varus or bow-legged malalignment while the leg is taking on weight.
The results of the study appear in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism and show an interesting difference between the races. Healthy gait does not reveal a thrust in either the varus or the valgus direction. The evaluation of the cohort revealed that African-Americans in general had more valgus thrust in their gait than did Caucasians, while Caucasians more often had varus thrust than did African-Americans. All together, a varus thrust was found in close to 37% of individuals with knee OA and 32% without, while valgus thrust was found in 9% of persons with knee OA and 7% whose knees were OA-free.
In statistical analyses adjusting for other factors, African-Americans were significantly less likely to have a varus thrust and more likely to have a valgus thrust.
The principal investigator of the study, Dr. Leena Sharma, Professor, Division of Rheumatology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago says the study illustrates that knee OA may have a different natural history in Caucasians and African-Americans. “It showed that African-Americans were more likely to have a valgus thrust during gait than Caucasians in the study and that Caucasians were more likely to have a varus thrust. What is particularly interesting about this is that a previous study had suggested that African-Americans more often had narrowing of the lateral (outer) compartment of the knee. Valgus thrust is a risk factor that might help to explain this.”
Using the members from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort, a research team from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University examined the frequency of varus (bow-legged) and valgus (knock-kneed) thrust in the group and differences between two racial groups: African-Americans and Caucasians. Just over 3,500 patients were evaluated, including approximately 600 African-Americans and 3,000 Caucasians. These participants were split into two other groups, those with osteoarthritis (OA) in one or both knees and those without.
Because there has been past research to support a link between varus thrust and an increased risk for knee osteoarthritis progression, this subsequent study has significance beyond just demographic statistics. Varus thrust can be seen in someone’s walking pattern and involves the development or worsening of a varus or bow-legged malalignment while the leg is taking on weight.
The results of the study appear in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism and show an interesting difference between the races. Healthy gait does not reveal a thrust in either the varus or the valgus direction. The evaluation of the cohort revealed that African-Americans in general had more valgus thrust in their gait than did Caucasians, while Caucasians more often had varus thrust than did African-Americans. All together, a varus thrust was found in close to 37% of individuals with knee OA and 32% without, while valgus thrust was found in 9% of persons with knee OA and 7% whose knees were OA-free.
In statistical analyses adjusting for other factors, African-Americans were significantly less likely to have a varus thrust and more likely to have a valgus thrust.
The principal investigator of the study, Dr. Leena Sharma, Professor, Division of Rheumatology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago says the study illustrates that knee OA may have a different natural history in Caucasians and African-Americans. “It showed that African-Americans were more likely to have a valgus thrust during gait than Caucasians in the study and that Caucasians were more likely to have a varus thrust. What is particularly interesting about this is that a previous study had suggested that African-Americans more often had narrowing of the lateral (outer) compartment of the knee. Valgus thrust is a risk factor that might help to explain this.”
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