Objectives: To evaluate changes of the gait pattern and the clinical improvement in patients with degenerative arthritis of the knee after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Method: Gait analysis was performed in 64 patients with degenerative arthritis of the knee at pre- and post-surgery 1 year, also Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score and Visual analogue scale (VAS) for clinical assessment were investigated.

Results: 1) In the HSS knee score and VAS, there were statistically significant improvement after surgery (p＜0.05). 2) In the postoperative gait analysis, all the linear parameters except single limb support period were significantly improved (p＜0.05). Single limb support period was improved, but statistically insignificant. All the kinematic and kinetic parameters also were significantly improved (p＜0.05).

Conclusion: This study suggests that gait analysis can be used for quantitative evaluation of the effects of total knee arthroplasty in patients with degenerative arthritis of the knee. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 581-586)