DETERMINING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN KNEE MUSCLE STRENGTH AND VARUS THRUST IN KNEE OA

Abstract

Varus thrust (VT), a biomechanical feature reported in knee OA is identified visually, quantified using frontal kinematics and associated with OA progression. Objectives: To determine the association between i) two objective measures of VT, ii) knee muscle strength and objective measure of VT, and iii) biomechanical variables and objective measure of VT. 87 ASYM and 135 MOD OA participants underwent gait assessment. Frontal and sagittal plane knee angles (KFA range) and frontal plane moments (KAM: peak and impulse) were calculated. Participants completed MVICs of knee extensors, flexors and plantarflexors on a Cybex™ Dynamometer. Correlation and multivariate regression indicated no significant association between two objective measures of VT as well as strength, KAM impulse, KFA range and the objective measure of VT (p>0.05). Significant associations were found between peak KAM and objective measure of VT (p<0.05). Factors other than muscle strength are related to objective measure of VT including biomechanical variables.