Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2006 Jul;65(7):865-70.
doi: 10.1136/ard.2005.043653. Epub 2005 Nov 24.

Relative impact of radiographic osteoarthritis and pain on quadriceps strength, proprioception, static postural sway and lower limb function

M C Hall  1 , S P Mockett, M Doherty
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Relative impact of radiographic osteoarthritis and pain on quadriceps strength, proprioception, static postural sway and lower limb function

M C Hall et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relative impact of radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) and current knee pain on lower limb physical function, quadriceps strength, knee joint proprioception, and postural sway.

Methods: Using a 2x2 factorial design, 142 community derived subjects aged over 45 were divided into four subgroups based on the presence or absence of ROA (Kellgren & Lawrence>grade 2) and knee pain (as assessed by NHANES questions and a 100 mm visual analogue scale). Maximum isometric contraction of the quadriceps, knee joint proprioceptive acuity, static postural sway, and WOMAC index (both whole and function subscale) were assessed in all subjects.

Results: Compared with normal subjects, reported disability was greater for all other subgroups (p<0.01). Subjects with both ROA and knee pain reported the greatest disability, and those with knee pain only had greater disability than those with ROA only. Quadriceps weakness was observed in all groups compared with normal subjects (p<0.01), though they were no significant intergroup differences. Subjects with knee pain had a greater sway area than those without (p<0.05) but the presence of ROA was not associated with increased postural sway. No differences in proprioceptive acuity were observed between groups.

Conclusions: The presence of knee pain has a negative association with quadriceps strength, postural sway, and disability compared with ROA. However, the presence of pain-free ROA has a significant negative influence on relative quadriceps strength and reported disability.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Guccione A A, Felston D T, Anderson J J, Anthony J M, Zhang Y, Wilson P W.et al The effects of specific medical conditions on the functional limitations of elders in the Framingham study. Am J Public Health 199484351–358. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Felson D T, Naimark A, Anderson J, Kazis L, Castelli W, Meenan R F. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in the elderly. The Framingham Osteoarthritis Study. Arthritis Rheum 198730914–918. - PubMed
    1. Odding E, Valkenburg H A, Algra D, Vandenouweland F A, Grobbee D E, Hofman A. Associations of radiological osteoarthritis of the hip and knee with locomotor disability in the Rotterdam study. Ann Rheum Dis 199857203–208. - PMC - PubMed
    1. McAlindon T E, Cooper C, Kirwan J R, Dieppe P A. Determinants of disability in osteoarthritis of the knee. Ann Rheum Dis 199352258–262. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Davis M A, Ettinger W H, Neuhaus J M, Mallon K P. Knee osteoarthritis and physical functioning: evidence from the NHANES I Epidemiologic Followup Study. J Rheumatol 199118591–598. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms