Research Paper: Comparing the Effect of a Fatigue Protocol on Kinematic Gait Parameters in Students With Genu Valgum and Genu Varum and Their Normal Peers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of a fatigue protocol on some kinematic gait parameters in students with genu valgum, genu varum and normal people. Methods: Samples of this study included 37 high school students (age 16.39 years, height 172.42 cm, weight 71.10 kg) who participated voluntarily in the study and were divided into three groups of genu valgum (n=13), genu varum (n=12) and normal (n=12). In order to evaluate the alignment of the lower extremity, goniometry-based quadriceps angle (Q) measurement was performed and the kinematic parameters were evaluated by a 10-m walk test using KINOVEA software. Results: Intragroup comparison results showed that there were significant differences in stance time, swing time, step length, walking speed, number of steps and walking distance between all three groups after inducing the fatigue protocol (P<0.001), while intergroup comparison results showed significant differences between the three groups only in terms of stance time, swing time, and stride length after applying the fatigue protocol (P<0.001). Conclusion: The present study showed that the fatigue protocol can affect kinematic gait parameters in people with knee abnormalities and those with normal alignment, and these effects differ in some parameters between normal subjects and those with genu varum and genu valgum.