Article

Knee osteoarthritis is common and patients frequently complain that they are
'overloading' the joints of the opposite leg when they walk. However, it is
unknown whether moments or co-contractions are abnormal in the unaffected joints
of patients with single joint knee osteoarthritis, or how they change following
treatment of the affected knee. Twenty patients with single joint medial
compartment knee osteoarthritis were compared to 20 asymptomatic control
subjects. Gait analysis was performed for normal level gait and surface EMG
recordings of the medial and lateral quadriceps and hamstrings were used to
investigate co-contraction. Patients were followed up 12 months post-operatively
and the analysis was repeated. Results are presented for the first 14 patients
who have attended follow-up. Pre-operatively, adduction moment impulses were
elevated at both knees and the contra-lateral hip compared to controls.
Co-contraction of hamstrings and quadriceps was elevated bilaterally.
Post-operatively, moment waveforms returned to near-normal levels at the affected
knee and co-contraction fell in the majority of patients. However, abnormalities
persisted in the contra-lateral limb with partial or no recovery of both moment
waveforms and co-contraction in the majority. Patients with knee osteoarthritis
do experience abnormal loads of their major weight bearing joints bilaterally,
and abnormalities persist despite treatment of the affected limb. Further
treatment may be required if we are to protect the other major joints following
joint arthroplasty.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS