Walking on split-belt treadmill has been applied to study walking disabilities, such as osteoarthritis (OA), to show asymmetric walking characteristics. In this study, we compared asymmetric walking in OA patients with healthy subjects under split-belt conditions and examined the reproduction of walking asymmetry in OA. Seven OA patients were instructed to walk at four frequencies, while four healthy subjects walked on a treadmill with tied-belt and split-belt conditions. To compare walking asymmetries, kinetic and kinematic measurements were made using force-plates and motion capture cameras, and subsequently center of mass (CoM) velocity, mechanical work and potential energy were calculated. Horizontal velocity change during split-belt walking of healthy subjects was similar to OA patients. Difference of mechanical work during single support phase occurred due to fall of CoM in fast belt. OA walking asymmetry could be reproduced by reducing differences of belt speeds to prevent rapid fall of CoM.
