Association of sensorimotor function with knee joint kinematics during locomotion in knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between quadriceps sensorimotor function (knee joint-position sense, quadriceps strength, and quadriceps onset of activity) and knee joint kinematics (knee flexion at initial contact and loading) during level walking and stair descent in a large cohort of 220 people with knee osteoarthritis.


METHODS
Cross-sectional correlational study.


RESULTS
Joint-position sense correlated with knee flexion at initial contact during both tasks (r = -0.20 and -0.14, P <0.05). Strength correlated with peak loading response knee flexion during both tasks (r = 0.17 and 0.20, P < 0.05). Quadriceps onset correlated with knee flexion at initial contact during stair descent (r = 0.14, P < 0.05). Furthermore, differences in kinematic variables were observed when participants were divided into those with best and worst sensorimotor function.


CONCLUSIONS
Impaired sensorimotor function as measured in this study is not strongly associated with altered knee joint kinematics observed in knee osteoarthritis patients during locomotion.
Bennell
Kim L
KL
Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, School of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Hinman
Rana S
RS
Metcalf
Ben R
BR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015984:Causality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011434:Proprioception; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016138:Walking