Lateral Trunk Motion and Knee Pain in Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee may change their gait in an attempt to reduce loading of the affected knee, thereby reducing pain. Especially changes in lateral trunk motion may be potentially effective, since these will affect the position of the centre of mass relative to the knee, enabling minimization of the load on the knee and thereby knee pain. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that a higher level of knee pain is associated with higher lateral trunk motion in patients with knee OA.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifty-two patients with OA of the knee were tested. Lateral trunk motion was measured during the stance phase of walking with an optoelectronic motion analysis system and a force plate. Knee pain was measured with the VAS and the WOMAC pain questionnaire. Regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between lateral trunk motion and knee pain.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It was shown that in bivariate analyses knee pain was not associated with lateral trunk motion. In regression analyses, pain was associated with more lateral trunk motion. In addition, more lateral trunk motion was associated with younger age, being female, higher self-reported knee stiffness and higher maximum walking speed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pain is associated with lateral trunk motion. This association is weak and is influenced by age, gender, self-reported stiffness and maximum walking speed.</p

Three trajectories of activity limitations in early symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a 5-year follow-up study

Objectives Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of activity limitations. The knee OA population is likely to consist of subgroups. The aim of the present study was to identify homogeneous subgroups with distinct trajectories of activity limitations in patients with early symptomatic knee OA and to describe characteristics of these subgroups. Methods Follow-up data over a period of 5 years of 697 participants with early symptomatic knee OA from the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) were used. Activity limitations were measured yearly with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Latent class growth analyses identified homogeneous subgroups with distinct trajectories of activity limitations. Multivariable regression analyses examined differences in characteristics between the subgroups. Results Three subgroups were identified. Participants in Subgroup 1 ('good outcome'; n=330) developed or displayed slight activity limitations over time. Participants in Subgroup 2 ('moderate outcome'; n=257) developed or displayed moderate activity limitations over time. Participants in subgroup 3 ('poor outcome'; n=110) developed or displayed severe activity limitations over time. Compared with the 'good outcome' subgroup, the 'moderate outcome' and 'poor outcome' subgroups were characterised by: younger age, higher body mass index, greater pain, bony tenderness, reduced knee flexion, hip pain, osteophytosis, >= 3 comorbidities, lower vitality or avoidance of activities. Conclusions Based on the 5-year course of activity limitations, we identified homogeneous subgroups of knee OA patients with good, moderate or poor outcome. Characteristics of these subgroups were consistent with existing knowledge on prognostic factors regarding activity limitations, which supports the validity of this classification