Article

Joint instability has been suggested as a risk factor for knee
osteoarthritis and a cause of significant functional decline in those with
symptomatic disease. However, the relationship between altered knee joint
mechanics and self-reports of instability in individuals with knee osteoarthritis
remains unclear. METHODS: Fourteen subjects with knee osteoarthritis and
complaints of joint instability and 12 control volunteers with no history of knee
disease were recruited for this study. Dynamic stereo X-ray technology was used
to assess the three-dimensional kinematics of the knee joint during the loading
response phase of gait. FINDINGS: Individuals with concurrent knee osteoarthritis
and joint instability demonstrated significantly reduced flexion and
internal/external rotation knee motion excursions during the loading response
phase of gait (P<0.01), while the total abduction/adduction range of motion was
increased (P<0.05). In addition, the coronal and transverse plane alignment of
the knee joint at initial contact was significantly different (P<0.05) for
individuals with concurrent knee osteoarthritis and joint instability. However,
the anteroposterior and mediolateral tibiofemoral joint positions at initial
contact and the corresponding total joint translations were similar between
groups during the loading phase of gait. INTERPRETATIONS: The rotational patterns
of tibiofemoral joint motion and joint alignments reported for individuals with
concurrent knee osteoarthritis and joint instability are consistent with those
previously established for individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, the
findings of similar translatory tibiofemoral motion between groups suggest that
self-reports of episodic joint instability in individuals with knee
osteoarthritis may not necessarily be associated with adaptive alterations in
joint arthrokinematics.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS