Frontal plane knee angle and stride width explain kam reduction in three previously studied gait modifications

Multiple linear regressions were conducted to determine which kinematic and temporospatial variables best predict reduction in knee abduction moment (KAM) during gait modification (GM). Only varus knee angle and stride width predicted KAM reduction in GMs. These results demonstrate that factors aside from target kinematic parameters explain KAM reduction during GM. Decreased varus knee angle during reduced foot progression (FP) GM may have greater contribution to reducing frontal plane lever arm than lateralization of the center of pressure (COP) due to internal foot rotation. During lateral trunk lean (TL), a more varus knee is required to shift the center of mass (COM) over the involved limb, thereby reducing the frontal plane moment arm. Increased stride width also contributed to KAM reduction in all GMs, and warrants further investigation as a simple GM to reduce KAM.