Knee Extensor Muscle Strength Is More Important Than Postural Balance for Stair-Climbing Ability in Elderly Patients with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis

José Casaña, Joaquín Calatayud, Antonio Silvestre, José Sánchez-Frutos, Lars L. Andersen, Markus D. Jakobsen, Yasmín Ezzatvar and Yasser Alakhdar
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José Casaña: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Joaquín Calatayud: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Antonio Silvestre: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinic Hospital of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
José Sánchez-Frutos: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Lars L. Andersen: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Markus D. Jakobsen: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Yasmín Ezzatvar: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Yasser Alakhdar: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-9

Abstract: Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease which damages articular cartilage. In its severe stages, it results in impairments in balance and muscle strength loss, which affect daily life activities such as walking or climbing stairs. This study sought to investigate associated factors with stair-climbing ability in this population, with special interest in measuring the relevance of postural balance for this task. Forty-four patients scheduled to undergo unilateral total knee arthroplasty were assessed. Timed up and go test, stair ascent–descent test, three different isometric strength tests (knee flexion, knee extension and hip abduction), active knee extension and flexion range of movement and static postural balance assessment were evaluated. Spearman’s correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analysis determined the strength of association between the different variables and stair-climbing time. No significant association between the stair-climbing time and static balance was found. Significant associations were found between stair-climbing time and timed up and go (r = 0.71; p < 0.0001) and maximal knee extensor strength (r = –0.52; p = 0.0003). One-year increase in age was associated with 0.15 s (95% CI 0.00 to 0.30) slower stair-climbing time. In conclusion, muscle strength is more important than postural balance for stair-climbing ability in this population.

Keywords: falls; aging; posturography; total knee arthroplasty; postural balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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