The relationship between radiological severity and functional status in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between radiological findings and functional status in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In this study, 117 female patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to the ACR criteria were included. Antero-posterior knee radiographs of the patients were graded according to Kellgren-Lawrence, and functional capacity was evaluated with WOMAC and Lequesne indexes. Quadriceps and hamstring muscle strengths were also concentrically measured using an isokinetic dynamometer, five repetitions at 90°/s and 20 repetitions at 180°/s. In this study, a significant relationship was determined between the age, weight, praying period, and pain period of the patients with the radiological findings. No significant relationship was determined between the functional capacity of knee and muscle strength and the radiological findings. However, left hamstring functioning capacity was found as lower in the group with the radiological findings. The radiological findings in knee OA are not associated with decrease in knee muscle strength and functional capacity. Clinical symptoms such as pain, decrease in range of motion, etc. in knee OA may be responsible for decrease in knee muscle strength and functional capacity.

Home exercise therapy to improve muscle strength and joint flexibility effectively treats pre-radiographic knee OA in community-dwelling elderly: a randomized controlled trial

“…However, there is reportedly no clear relationship between K/L classification and subjective pain [4] or between K/L classification result and thigh muscle strength or functional capacity [5, 6]. Even in clinical practice, some subjects have knee pain and dysfunction despite a low K/L classification (pre-radiographic knee OA).…”

Immediate Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain and Physical Performance in Individuals With Preradiographic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…12 However, no significant association has been found between K/L grade and knee pain, 13 leg extensor and flexor muscle strengths, and WOMAC. 14,15 Moreover, individuals whose K/L score is 0 may have cartilage damage or bone marrow lesions, as demonstrated using magnetic resonance imaging. 16 Thus, even individuals with K/L grade 0 or 1 (preradiographic OA) may have knee pain or inadequate function.…”

Higher Function Scores and Satisfaction in Patients with Anteromedial Osteoarthritis Compared with Other Wear Patterns of the Knee: 2 Years after Both Total and Unicondylar Knee Arthroplasties

“…Subsequently, this might have led to more muscle wasting and thus a worse starting point after KA. This assumption is supported by the finding that a decrease in muscle strength seems to be associated to worse clinical symptoms before surgery, 29,30 and that deterioration of the functional status before TKA may compromise the functional results after knee replacement. 31,32 Thus, not so much a more severe radiographic OA grade, but rather a worse preoperative physical condition of our patients with more advanced OA and other wear patterns could be part of the explanation why patients with AMOA are more functional and satisfied after KA.…”