title: Is quadriceps muscle weakness a risk factor for incident or progressive knee osteoarthritis?
abstract: The role of the quadriceps muscle in mediating risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common subject of investigation. The quadriceps muscle is a principal contributor to knee joint stability and provides shock absorption for the knee during ambulation. Clinically, weakness of the quadriceps muscle is consistently found in patients with knee OA. Research has shown that higher quadriceps muscle strength is associated with a reduced risk for incident symptomatic knee OA. However, there is limited evidence to suggest that quadriceps muscle plays a significant role in the incidence of radiographic knee OA. In addition, greater quadriceps muscle strength is associated with a lower risk for progression of tibiofemoral joint space narrowing and cartilage loss in women. This article summarizes knowledge of the relationship between quadriceps muscle strength and risk for knee OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Iowa City, IA, USA. segal-research@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Glass
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors