Article

PURPOSE: To investigate between-leg differences in hip and thigh muscle strength
and leg extensor power in patients with unilateral hip osteoarthritis. Further,
to compare between-leg differences in knee extensor strength and leg extensor
power between patients and healthy peers. METHODS: Seventy-two patients (60-87
years) with radiographic and symptomatic hip osteoarthritis not awaiting hip
replacement and 35 healthy peers (63-82 years) were included. Hip and thigh
muscle strength and leg extensor power were measured in patients and knee
extensor strength and leg extensor power in healthy. RESULTS: The symptomatic
extremity in patients was significantly (p < 0.05, paired t-test) weaker compared
with the non-symptomatic extremity for five hip muscles (8-17%), knee extensors
(11%) and leg extensor power (19%). Healthy older adults had asymmetry in knee
extensor strength (6%, p < 0.05) comparable to that found in patients, but had no
asymmetry in leg extensor power. CONCLUSIONS: Patients had generalized weakening
of the affected lower extremity and numerically the largest asymmetry was evident
for leg extensor power. In contrast, healthy peers had no asymmetry in leg
extensor power. These results indicate that exercise interventions focusing on
improving leg extensor power of the symptomatic lower extremity and reducing
asymmetry may be beneficial for patients with hip osteoarthritis. Implications
for Rehabilitation Even in patients with mild symptoms not awaiting hip
replacement a generalized muscle weakening of the symptomatic lower extremity
seems to be present. Between-leg differences in leg extensor power (force x
velocity) appears to be relatively large (19%) in patients with unilateral hip
osteoarthritis in contrast to healthy peers who show no asymmetry. Compared to
muscle strength the relationship between functional performance and leg extensor
power seems to be stronger, and more strongly related to power of the symptomatic
lower extremity. Our results indicate that exercise interventions focusing on
improving leg extensor power of the symptomatic lower extremity and reducing
asymmetry may be beneficial for patients with mild symptoms not awaiting hip
replacement.

Langue : ANGLAIS