Clinical and radiological assessment of the knee, and isokinetic study of muscle strength in osteoarthritic elderly subjects

Abstract

This study was conducted to primarily assess the differences between peak torque and work done by the flexor and extensor muscles in normal and in osteoarthritic knees. In addition, factors which might attenuate muscle torque were investigated. A group of eleven OA patients was studied. Twelve elderly asymptomatic subjects of the same age were used as a control group. The WOMAC OA index was employed to assess clinical knee joint function. I*hc parameters of muscle strength were obtained by the LIDO Active Isokinetic Rehabilitation System. The speed of the isokinetic concentric contraction was set at 60 degress/second. Independent Student t-tests were carried out to test differences between groups. Person product moment correlation coefficients were calculated to investigate association between the variables. The OA group presented a significant decrease in muscle torque and total work done by both flexor and extensor muscles. The decrease in the extensor peak torque and in the work done by the extensor muscles was greater than that observed in the flexor muscles. Pain and stiffness accounted for isokinetic torque differences in OA kness. There was no close relationship between age or the grade of X-ray change and the peak torque and work measures.