The Possibilities and Acceptability of Applying Gait Modification to the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis in Saudi Arabia Based on the Perceptions of Patients and Physiotherapists. A Mixed-methods Feasibility Study.

Since several different types of gait modifications have been studied, it has been challenging to determine which are most likely to be used by patients and healthcare professionals.

A notable number of Saudi Arabians suffer from knee osteoarthritis (KOA), which reported a 29.5% prevalence of KOA; another recent study reported a 24.5% prevalence of KOA among the elderly. A 2002 study found that 30.8% of those aged 46-55 and 60.6% aged 66-75 were affected. Thus, KOA is roughly equally distributed between genders and is more prevalent among elderly and overweight individuals, so policymakers should focus on raising awareness to prevent and treat affected individuals. The healthcare system in SA is publicly funded and accessible; 79% of patients use the public system, and the rest obtain private care. In most cases, private patients have insurance coverage. The public healthcare system has three primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels. Rehabilitation and gait modification investigations are not available at the primary level.

This snapshot of the literary review raises questions about the viability of the long-term use of learned/assistive gait modifications. The studies reported dissatisfaction with the gait modification approach but gave no reasons. Since most studies focus on results in a short time or a specific area, pre-training courses measuring acceptability and commitment can fill the gaps in previous studies. After determining the importance of gait modification, the question becomes, should it be integrated into the therapy strategy or other rehabilitative methods to increase the treatment's clinical efficacy? It is essential to understand the practices, views and expectations of KOA patients and health professionals concerning gait modifications.