POS1084 COMPARISON OF QUADRICEPS FEMORIS MUSCLE OPTIMAL FIBER LENGTH, İSOMETRIC MAXIMAL CONTRACTION OF QF MUSCLE, Q/H STRENGTH RATIO AND PEAK KNEE EXTENSOR PROPRIOCEPTION DEGREE IN PATIENTS WITH TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY AND HEALTHY ADULTS (2024)

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease characterized by the deterioration of joint cartilage causing pain, stiffness, and impaired range of motion subchondral bone is important for physiological joint function. The close relationship between subchondral bone and joint cartilage malce both a functional unit. When the initial conservative management of OA could not reached the rehabilitation success; significant number of patients undergo total knee arthroplasty. Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), predictably reduces knee pain related to osteoarthritis, but it has had limited success in restoring quadriceps femoris muscle force – generating capacity and function to that of age – matched people without TKA.

Objectives: Thus the aim of this study was to compare the isometric maximal voluntary contraction (IMVC) of Quadriceps Femoris (QF) muscle, the muscle function of optimal fiber length for the QF muscle, to compare QF/H strength ratio for the weakness of the muscular around the knee joint and lastly to compare the knee proprioception.

Methods: Thirty – six TKA patient between the ages of 45 to 75 years with mean age 67.42 ± 78.21 years and 36 healthy participants with mean age 60.13 ± 10.91 years with aged matched controls were included into the study. IMVC and QF/H strength ratio and the optimal fiber length measurements in different hip and knee joint angles were assessed with hand – held dyanomometer. The proprioception was assessed with digital inclinometer to find out peak knee extensor angle on 30°, 60° and 90° knee extension position. Since the participants in each group were lower than 50; the normal distrubition was assessed with Shapiro – Wilk Test Lillifors Significance Correction. Variables were assessed as mean ± SD and compare to the groups Independent Sample T Test was used. For the optimal fiber length strength in different hip and knee angles the ANOVA variance analysis were assessed.

Results: The IMVC display no difference between the groups (p> 0.05) whereas QF/H strength ratio showed statistically significantly difference between the groups (p<0.05). Additionally, QF optimal fiber length for the strength which was assessed on the different hip and knee joint angles, showed statistically significantly difference for 60° knee extension with 100° hip extension between the groups (p <0.05). The knee proprioseption peak knee extansor angle were found for the 90° hip flexion with 60° and 90° knee extension (p <0.05).

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this study is the first clinical based study to evaluate the QF muscle performance after TKA compared to healthy controls. This approach is sophisticated access to evaluate the QF force generation and function in TKA patients. As a result these findings are objective and IMVC was restoered after the surgery however the cocntraction of the muscles was impaired and optimal QF fiber length strength indicated difference. Thus these measurements and their comparison with healthy controls are important for the applied rehabilitation programs.

Acknowledgements: NIL.

Disclosure of Interests: None declared.