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
. 2024 Jun;17(2):e12028.
doi: 10.1002/jfa2.12028.

Differences in ankle and knee muscle architecture and plantar pressure distribution among women with knee osteoarthritis

Nazli Busra Cigercioglu  1 , Zilan Bazancir-Apaydin  2 , Hakan Apaydin  3 , Gul Baltaci  4 , Hande Guney-Deniz  1
Affiliations

Differences in ankle and knee muscle architecture and plantar pressure distribution among women with knee osteoarthritis

Nazli Busra Cigercioglu et al. J Foot Ankle Res. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the plantar pressure distribution and knee and ankle muscle architecture in women with and without knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Fifty women with knee OA (mean age = 52.11 ± 4.96 years, mean Body mass index (BMI) = 30.94 ± 4.23 kg/m2) and 50 healthy women as a control group (mean age = 50.93 ± 3.78 years, mean BMI = 29.06 ± 4.82 kg/m2) were included in the study. Ultrasonography was used to evaluate knee and ankle muscles architecture and femoral cartilage thickness. The plantar pressure distribution was evaluated using the Digital Biometry Scanning System and Milleri software (DIASU, Italy). Static foot posture was evaluated using the Foot Posture Index (FPI), and pain severity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale.

Results: The OA group exhibited lower muscle thickness in Rectus Femoris (RF) (p = 0.003), Vastus Medialis (VM) (p = 0.004), Vastus Lateralis (p = 0.023), and Peroneus Longus (p = 0.002), as well as lower Medial Gastrocnemius pennation angle (p = 0.049) and higher Fat thickness (FT) in RF (p = 0.033) and VM (p = 0.037) compared to the control group. The OA group showed thinner femoral cartilage thickness (p = 0.001) and higher pain severity (p = 0.001) than the control groups. FPI scores were higher (p = 0.001) in OA group compared to the control group. The plantar pressure distribution results indicated an increase in total surface (p = 0.027), total load (p = 0.002), medial load (p = 0.005), and lateral load (p = 0.002) on dominant side in OA group compared to the control group.

Conclusions: Knee and ankle muscle architecture, knee extensor muscle FT, and plantar pressure distribution in the dominant foot differed in individuals with knee OA compared to the control group.

Keywords: foot; knee osteoarthritis; muscle architecture; muscles; ultrasonography.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Not applicable.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Ultrasound images of the medial gastrocnemius. DA, deep aponeurosis, FL, fascicle length, FT, fat thickness, MG, medial gastrocnemius, MT, muscle thickness, PA, pennation angle, SA, superficial aponeurosis.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Analysis results of the plantar pressure distribution. P. Avg, average pressure, Pmax, maximum pressure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Arden, N. K. , and Leyland K. M.. 2013. “Osteoarthritis Year 2013 in Review: Clinical.” Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 21(10): 1409–1413. 10.1016/j.joca.2013.06.021. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Tuna, S. , Balcı N., and Özçakar L.. 2016. “The Relationship between Femoral Cartilage Thickness and Muscle Strength in Knee Osteoarthritis.” Clinical Rheumatology 35(8): 2073–2077. 10.1007/s10067-016-3271-4. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Pane, R. V. , Setiyaningsih R., Widodo G., Al Hajiri A. Z. Z., and Salsabil J. R.. 2023. “Femoral Cartilage Thickness in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients and Healthy Adults: An Ultrasound Measurement Comparison.” The Scientific World Journal 17: 3942802: 2023. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Fujita, R. , Matsui Y., Harada A., Takemura M., Kondo I., Nemoto T., and Ota S.. 2014. “Relationship between Muscle Strength and Knee Pain in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients.” Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 22: S415. 10.1016/j.joca.2014.02.782. - DOI
    1. Aily, J. B. , de Noronha M., de Almeida A. C., Pedroso M. G., Maciel J. G., Mattiello‐Sverzut A. C., and Mattiello Stela Marcia. 2019. “Evaluation of Vastus Lateralis Architecture and Strength of Knee Extensors in Middle‐Aged and Older Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis.” Clinical Rheumatology 38(9): 2603–2611. 10.1007/s10067-019-04539-9. - DOI - PubMed

MeSH terms