Muscle Property, Alignment and Joint Loading in People With Knee Osteoarthritis

External Tibia Torsion and Passive Muscle Stiffness of Quadriceps as Two Important Contributors of Joint Loading During Walking in People With Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common chronic painful musculoskeletal condition among older adults. It poses great challenge to the health care system due to its inability to be cured. Understanding factors associated with disease progression in KOA should assist the development of novel prevention/rehabilitation strategies. This study investigate factors including muscle properties, lower limb alignment and joint loading in patients with knee osteoarthritis before and after a six-week exercise program.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age between 50-80
2. having radiographic tibiofemoral joint OA in the medial compartment defined as Kellgren and Lawrence grade = 2 to 3
3. having medial knee pain on most days of the month
4. having a minimum average pain score of 2 on an 11-point numerical rating scale in the past week while walking

Exclusion Criteria:

1. having lateral tibiofemoral compartment osteophytes greater than the medial side.
2. having undergone intra-articular corticosteroid injection or knee surgery to either knee within the past 3 months
3. having a systemic arthritic condition (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
4. having a knee joint replacement or high tibial osteotomy in the past
5. having any other muscular, joint or neurological condition influencing lower limb function
6. unable to walk unaided
7. having low back, hip, ankle or foot pain > 3 on numerical rating scale
8. having a body mass index (BMI) >36 kg/ m2