Biomechanical factors associated with the development of tibiofemoral knee osteoarthritis: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Altered biomechanics, increased joint loading and tissue damage, might be related in a vicious cycle within the development of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). We have defined biomechanical factors as joint-related factors that interact with the forces, moments and kinematics in and around a synovial joint. Although a number of studies and systematic reviews have been performed to assess the association of various factors with the development of KOA, a comprehensive overview focusing on biomechanical factors that are associated with the development of KOA is not available. The aim of this review is (1) to identify biomechanical factors that are associated with (the development of) KOA and (2) to identify the impact of other relevant risk factors on this association.



Cohort, cross-sectional and case-control studies investigating the association of a biomechanical factor with (the development of) KOA will be included. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus will be searched from their inception until August 2015. 2 reviewers will independently screen articles obtained by the search for eligibility, extract data and score risk of bias. Quality of evidence will be evaluated. Meta-analysis using random effects model will be applied in each of the biomechanical factors, if possible.



This systematic review and meta-analysis does not require ethical approval. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at (inter)national conferences.



CRD42015025092.
Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Joyce A C
JA
van Tunen
Institute of Applied Health Research, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland.
Andrea
A
Dell'Isola
Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Department of Rehabilitation, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte, Denmark.
Carsten
C
Juhl
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Joost
J
Dekker
Institute of Applied Health Research, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland.
Martijn
M
Steultjens
Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Bergen University College, Bergen, Norway.
Hans
H
Lund
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000209:etiology*; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic
REHABILITATION MEDICINE; RHEUMATOLOGY