Influence of difference in knee alignment on site of pain and psychological state after long-distance walking

Background and Study Aim: In this study, focusing on the individual difference in thecharacteristics of the knee joint, which plays an important role in weight bearing during walking, we examined the relationship between difference in knee alignment and pain in the legs during walking andeffect of the pain on the psychological state of exercise performers. Material/Methods: A total of 40 subjects, including 25 healthy men and 15 women were recruited to this study. Knee alignment was classified according to the intercondylar and intermalleolar distances by increments of 2.0 cm. After walking (85km) on day 3 of the 5-day event, subjects were required to answer a questionnaire asking where in the leg they had pain. The psychological state of each subject was assessed by performing the Profile of Mood States (POMS) after they had rested after walking on each of days 1, 2 and 3 of the 5-day event. Results: The following sites exhibited significant differences in the number and incidence of injury between groups: the anterior side of lower leg (p <0.05), posterior side of lower leg (p <0.01), ankle joint (p <0.05) and sole of foot (p <0.01). In the genu valgum group, the score for factor V(:Vigor)decreased by 4.0 points between days 1 to 3: 18.1 ± 4.6 points on day 1 and 14.1 ± 7.6 points on day 3, with a significant difference between days 1 and 3. Conclusions: When performing an exercise thatplaces load on the legs, such as walking, one should consider the risk of injury by measuring the individual’s knee alignment before commencing the exercise.