Clinically feasible biomechanical assessment of lower limb strength and postural stability in adults aged 50–75 years with moderate knee osteoarthritis: implications for technology-enabled healthy aging
Cross-sectional analysis compares lower-limb strength and stability in knee osteoarthritis and healthy adults, revealing crucial implications for rehabilitation.
Key Points
This study aims to assess lower-limb strength and postural sway in adults with knee osteoarthritis compared to healthy controls.
Cross-sectional analysis of 90 participants (45 with KOA, 45 controls) aged 50–75 years.
Strength assessed using handheld dynamometry; postural sway measured via static posturography.
Correlations and associations evaluated using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses.
KOA participants had significantly greater sway area and velocity, reduced stance time, and lower strength compared to controls (p < 0.001).
Quadriceps strength (β = −0.024, p < 0.001) and limb symmetry index (β = −0.062, p = 0.001) predicted sway area under eyes-closed conditions.
LSI and quadriceps strength correlated strongly with sway parameters and stance performance.