Biomechanical effects of a single intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid on gait pattern in patients with unilateral hip osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

According to the World Health Organization, the North American population has the highest incidence of hip joint osteoarthritis (OA). Gait limitations are commonly observed in the context of hip OA. This study aimed at assessing the effect of an intra-articular (IA) injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) compared to a peri-articular injection of a placebo (PL) in gait mechanics of hip OA patients. Gait assessment using a fully instrumented gait lab was obtained before hip IA injections and at 3 different time intervals. The HA injections tended to favour higher cadences and longer steps than PL injections. These findings suggest the HA injections may have a therapeutic effect on walking pattern of individuals presenting unilateral moderate-to –severe hip OA.