2.2. Tools
LEUK, OA [
PAD
The study tools were as follows: The Kellgren and Lawrence system [Spatiotemporal gait parameters were collected using a 10 camera motion capture system (Qualisys, Sweden), which was positioned along a 10 m long path. The path was equipped with a mobile safety harness that can withstand up to 500 kg of a person’s weight and can be fitted to the body characteristics of the subject in order to prevent a fall. Four passive markers were placed bilaterally on the heel and forefoot. The 3D coordinates of the markers and the stance and swing timings which were derived from using the motion capture system were transformed into a code, which was created for this study in LabView (version 2017, National Instruments, Austin, TX, USA). This code also calculates a Symmetry Index (SI) for all of the spatiotemporal parameters according to the following formula [The intervention involved the provision of new sport shoes (LEUK for women and THUN for men; Kybun AG, Roggwil, Switzerland). All of the participants were given the same brand of non-cushioned shoes and the same brand of cushioned shoes. The research group received shoes embedded with a sole that consists of a multi-component polyurethane, in which tiny air bubbles have been sealed. This “air pad” cushioning was designed to promote comfort. The control group was provided with sham shoes, i.e., identical shoes in terms of the exterior, but with regular soles. All of the subjects received bilateral shoes, as provided in most research studies of footwear intervention for individuals with OA [