Individuals with knee osteoarthritis present increased gait pattern deviations as measured by a knee-specific gait deviation index

•A Gait Deviation Index (GDI) measures one’s overall gait pattern dysfunction.•GDIs were compared between young adults and older adults with and without knee OA.•Lower (worse) GDIs were observed in those with knee OA compared to those without.•The GDI highlighted significant variability in knee OA gait patterns.•The clinical utility of an individual GDI score itself remains limited. A biomechanical analysis can provide valuable information on osteoarthritis (OA) gait, but important multidimensional interactions are often ignored. The Gait Deviation Index (GDI) was designed to address the issue of data complexity in gait analyses by providing a single, encompassing, value for one’s deviation from a normative reference group. The primary aim of this study was to examine differences in a knee-specific GDI among young adults, and older individuals with and without knee OA. Secondarily, we aimed to examine these differences while controlling for gait speed. Sagittal and frontal plane knee joint angles and moments were used in the computation of a GDI among young adults, and older individuals with and without knee OA. The GDI was calculated such that scores ≥100% were considered typical young-healthy gait and a 10% decrease below 100 equated to 1 standard deviation from typical gait. Scores were first examined using a one-way analysis of variance, and examined again after correcting for gait speed. The GDI was calculated for three groups: young-healthy adults (n = 52), older individuals without knee OA (n = 56), and individuals with knee OA (n = 191). Those with knee osteoarthritis exhibited a mean GDI of 87.2 (11.1), which was significantly lower than young adults (99.6 (10.6); p