AB1208 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNEE MUSCLE STRENGTH WITH DISABILITY AND PAIN IN PATIENTS WITH KELLGREN-LAWRENCE GRADE III-IV KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint disease and is the main cause of disability and pain. It is important to better understand potentially modifiable risk factors that may reduce disability and pain in advanced knee osteoarthritis. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between knee muscle strength with disability and pain in patients with advanced OA. Methods: Twenty-one patients (66.05 ± 8.02 years, 32.77 ± 5.37 kg/m2) with Kellgren-Lawrence grade III-IV OA were included in this pilot study. Knee flexion and extension muscle strength were measured with Easy Force® isometric pull dynamometer in accordance with the make test procedure. Disability was measured with Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and pain intensity was measured with VAS and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Results: The knee flexion strength of the patients was 75.52 ± 29.58 N, and the knee extension strength was 155.42 ± 49.84 N. Knee flexion strength was 17.85 ± 32.06 % and extension strength was 22.60 ± 21.10 % less than the other extremity. The total KOOS scores of the patients were 48.90 ± 24.78 %, PCS scores were 27.58 ± 15.82 and VAS were 8.42 ± 1.69. Flexion muscle strength of patients were moderately correlated with KOOS (r=0.44, p<0.05), but not with PCS and VAS scores. Extension muscle strength of patients was highly correlated with KOOS (r=0.70, p< 0.001), but not with PCS and VAS scores. Conclusion: In advanced knee osteoarthritis, knee extension strength deteriorated more than knee flexion strength. Exercise interventions for knee extension strength training can provide superior outcomes in knee extensor strength and function but not in pain.