Strength and voluntary activation of the quadriceps femoris muscle at different severities of osteoarthritic knee joint damage

Abstract

Objective: Improvements of quadriceps motor deficits represent a major therapeutical target in knee osteoarthritis (OA). In the present study, we investigated changes in quadriceps function at different stages of osteoarthritic cartilage damage.A4ethod.s: Measurements of quadriceps voluntary activation (VA) and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were performed by a twitch interpolation technique and the total muscular capacity (TMC) was calculated as the ratio of MVC and VA. We assessed 68 patients (56.7 2 9.5 years) with stage I1 and 154 patients (65.6 k 6.0 years) with stage IV chondropathy. As controls, we used 85 age related healthy subjects (58.1 f 8.7 years).Results: While TMC was significantly lower in stage IV (90.6 f 43.7 N rn) than in stage I1 chondropathy (109.6 k 51 .O) there were no differences in the MVCs between both groups. Quadriceps VA was even higher in stage IV (77.2k 13.2%) than in stage I1 chondropathy (70.8 t 16.0'%). In the controls, MVC, VA and T M C were significantly higher than in both OA groups. Conclusion:We assume that a decrease of T M C might occur within the course of OA and, in consequence, VA increases to maintain quadriceps MVC.

Lower leg muscle atrophy in ankle osteoarthritis

“…It has been reported that knee OA patients have a 14% to 45% reduction in quadriceps strength compared to control subjects. 6,8,18,19,21 In the present study, torque reductions were 37% and 38% for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, respectively. This torque reduction might be caused, at least in part, by arthrogenous muscle inhibition, 13,35 and by a loss Figure 1.…”

“…6,8,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] It has been shown that in knee OA the quadriceps strength is usually reduced by 14% to 45% compared to control subjects. 6,8,18,19,21 Sirca et al 22 reported that degenerative hip OA was associated with an atrophy of type II fibers. Nakamura and Suzuki 17 also reported selective type II fiber atrophy in hip and knee OA.…”

Muscular atrophy of the lower leg in unilateral post traumatic osteoarthritis of the ankle joint

“…Previous studies on muscle pathology in conjunction with OA focus on the hip and knee and on muscle force measurements. It has been shown that in knee OA the quadriceps strength is usually reduced by 14-45 % compared to control subjects [17][18][19]. Sirca et al reported that OA of the hip was strongly associated with a type II fiber atrophy of the gluteal muscles [18].…”

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Therapeutic Exercise on Quadriceps Activation in People With Tibiofemoral Osteoarthritis

“…6,7,17,19,25,26 Quadriceps activation failure is a complex issue, due to the variety of factors and mechanisms that likely contribute to its existence. The inability to optimally activate the quadriceps muscle may be modulated by both cortical 8 and spinal reflex mechanisms.…”