BACKGROUND: The use of bandages improves quasi-static posture control in individuals with knee osteoarthritis, but it is unknown whether this increased sensory input influences postural control in dynamic tasks.
OBJECTIVE: Assess the effect of bandage use on motor performance and reported pain in individuals with knee osteoarthritis during obstacle crossing.
METHODS: Twenty-four individuals with knee osteoarthritis were enrolled. A force plate was used to measure the vertical and anterior-posterior components of the ground reaction force during obstacle crossing, for the trailing and leading legs, under conditions with and without the use of a bandage. Pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale.
RESULTS: With use of a bandage, the propulsive time, time to active peak, propulsive peak, passive peak, and active impulse were significantly reduced in the trailing leg, and the braking peak was significantly increased in the leading leg. The pain parameters did not exhibit any variation.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the use of a bandage allowed for a more rapid movement, better estimates of the force applied against the ground in the propulsive stage, and a reduction in the overload on the locomotor system in the loading response stage.
