Effect of knee sleeves on joint angle variability during gait in older adults: a principal component analysis

The outcomes revealed reduced variability in knee and ankle joint angles on the sagittal plane when walking with knee sleeves compared to walking without them. Conversely, an increased variability in hip, knee, and ankle joint angles was observed on the sagittal plane when walking at a fast speed compared to a normal speed. These results suggest that knee sleeves may reduce variability in knee and ankle joint angles during walking in older adults, potentially lowering the risk of falls. This effect appears particularly beneficial during fast-paced walking, where joint angle fluctuations are more pronounced than during normal-speed walking. These findings offer quantitative evidence for the effectiveness of knee sleeves in enhancing walking performance in healthy older adults.