Sensorimotor changes and functional performance in knee osteoarthritis patients

Abstract EN

Objective: muscles are essential components of our sensorimotor system that help maintain balance and perform a smooth gait, but it is unclear whether arthritic damage adversely affects muscle sensorimotor function.

Quadriceps sensorimotor function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) was investigated, and whether these changes were associated with impairment of functional performance.

To compare balance in individuals with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) and in age-, gender- and body-mass-matched controls using simple clinical measures. Methods: Twenty five patients with OA and 25 healthy persons participated in this study.

All patients and control group were subjected to the following; Static postural sway [antero-posterior (AP), lateral and total] was measured using a balance dynamometer biodex system II under two visual conditions.

Dynamic standing balance was assessed using the ‘step test’.

Quadriceps strength, voluntary activation, and proprioceptive acuity (joint position sense acuity) were assessed in patients with knee OA.

In addition, WOMAC assessment of pain and physical function were also assessed.

Results: OA displayed significantly balance abnormality on most variables measured; greater sway was noted in the OA group on both lateral (eyes open) and AP directions (eyes closed), as well as total sway (eyes closed) (p<0.05).

Poorer dynamic standing balance was observed in the OA group as evidenced by the step test (p< 0.01) compared with the control subjects.

Patients with knee OA had weaker quadriceps, poorer voluntary activation that was associated with quadriceps weakness.

The most important predictors of disability were objective functional performance and quadriceps strength.

Conclusions: the patients with knee OA, articular damage may reduce quadriceps strength, and have a greater quadriceps weakness, and diminishes proprioceptive acuity.

Arthrogenic impairment in quadriceps sensorimotor function and decreased postural stability was associated with reduced functional performance.