title: A prospective comparative analysis of mobility in osteoarthritic knees.
abstract: We have sought to clarify whether the traditional Arabic lifestyle prevents restriction of movement in patients with degenerative arthritis of the knee. The range of movement of 68 osteoarthritic knees of Arabic patients was compared with that of 51 healthy knees of Muslim patients and 83 osteoarthritic knees in non-Arabic patients. The range of flexion of the osteoarthritic knees in the Arabic patients matched that of the healthy control knees, but was significantly better than that of the osteoarthritic knees in the non-Arabic patients. There was also a statistically significant difference between the mean extension deficit of the two groups with osteoarthritis. Exercises may help to prevent restriction of movement in osteoarthritis of the knee.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lovász
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kustos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bener
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018912:Arabs; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012067:Religion; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014479:United Arab Emirates