Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is chronic degenerative joint disorder. Patients with OA knee are significantly less functionally active, resulting in reduced muscular flexibility. The hamstring tightness is reported to be common in OA. Tibial torsion is the rotational alignment of plateau of tibia and malleoli, and that is altered in Knee osteoarthritis. Since biomechanical variation brought about by the hamstring tightness could be a possible cause for the tibial torsion and alteration in foot posture which is seen OA knee patients. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine the relation between hamstring tightness with tibial torsion and foot posture in OA knee patients.

Materials and methods: A Total 160 patients with Grade 1 and Grade 2 osteoarthritis of knee was included in the study. Active Knee Extension Test (AKET) was used to assess the hamstring tightness. Tibial torsion and foot posture was assessed using thigh malleoli method and Staheli plantar arch index respectively. Spearman Correlation Test was performed to correlate hamstring tightness with tibial torsion and foot posture.

Results: There is a moderate positive correlation between hamstring tightness and tibial torsion of Grade 1 (r: 0.2664) and Grade 2 (r: 0.2872) respectively, there is no correlation between hamstring tightness and foot posture (r: 0.0282) and (r: 0.0050) in both Grade 1 and Grade 2 Osteoarthritis knee patients respectively.