Quadriceps-strengthening exercise and quadriceps and knee biomechanics during walking in knee osteoarthritis: A two-centre randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effect of quadriceps strengthening on quadriceps muscle force, power, and work and tibio-femoral compressive loads during walking in adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Study design: Two-center, randomized, controlled trial.

Intervention: Patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to quadriceps strengthening program (3 times weekly) or no attention control group.

National Clinical Guidelines for non-surgical treatment of patients with recent onset low back pain or lumbar radiculopathy.

Purpose: To summarise recommendations about 20 non-surgical interventions for recent onset (<12 weeks) non-specific low back pain (LBP) and lumbar radiculopathy (LR) based on two guidelines from the Danish Health Authority.

Methods: Two multidisciplinary working groups formulated recommendations based on the GRADE approach.

Results: Sixteen recommendations were based on evidence, and four on consensus.

Effect of weight maintenance on symptoms of knee osteoarthritis in obese patients: a twelve-month randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare results of obese patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who, after an intensive weight loss regimen, received 1 year of either dietary support (D), a knee-exercise program (E), or "no attention" (C; control group).

Methods: We conducted a randomized, 2-phase, parallel-group trial. A total of 192 obese participants with knee OA were enrolled; the mean age was 62.

Is increased joint loading detrimental to obese patients with knee osteoarthritis? A secondary data analysis from a randomized trial.

Objective: To investigate whether increased knee joint loading due to improved ambulatory function and walking speed following weight loss achieved over 16 weeks accelerates symptomatic and structural disease progression over a subsequent 1 year weight maintenance period in an obese population with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Data from a prospective study of weight loss in obese patients with knee OA (the CARtilage in obese knee OsteoarThritis (CAROT) study) were used to determine changes in knee joint compressive loadings (model estimated) during walking after a successful 16 week weight loss intervention. The participants were divided into 'Unloaders' (participants that reduced joint loads) and 'Loaders' (participants that increased joint loads).

Weight loss is effective for symptomatic relief in obese subjects with knee osteoarthritis independently of joint damage severity assessed by high-field MRI and radiography.

Objective: With an increasing prevalence of older and obese citizens, the problems of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) will escalate. Weight loss is recommended for obese KOA patients and in a majority of cases this leads to symptomatic relief. We hypothesized that pre-treatment structural status of the knee joint, assessed by radiographs, 1.

The relationship between pain and dynamic knee joint loading in knee osteoarthritis varies with radiographic disease severity. A cross sectional study.

Objective: In a cross sectional study, we investigated the relationships between knee pain and mechanical loading across the knee, as indicated by the external knee adduction moment (KAM) during walking in patients with symptomatic knee OA who were distinguished by different radiographic disease severities.

Methods: Data from 137 symptomatic medial knee OA patients were used. Based on Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grading, the patients were divided into radiographically less severe (K/L ≤ 2, n=68) or severe (K/L>2, n=69) medial knee OA.

Adaptations in the gait pattern with experimental hamstring pain.

Pain changes movement but most studies have focused on basic physiological adaptations during non-functional movement tasks. The existing studies on how pain affects lower extremity gross movement biomechanics have primarily involved movements in which the quadriceps is the primary muscle and little attention has been given to how pain in other muscles affects functional movement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the gait patterns of healthy subjects that occur during experimental muscle pain in the biceps femoris.

The association between submaximal quadriceps force steadiness and the knee adduction moment during walking in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between quadriceps force steadiness and knee adduction moment during walking in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Background: Studies have shown that quadriceps force steadiness is impaired in patients with knee OA.

Effects of an intensive weight loss program on knee joint loading in obese adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To determine the effect of an intensive weight loss program on knee joint loads during walking in obese patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Participants included 157 obese knee OA patients that underwent a 16-week dietary intervention. Three-dimensional gait analyses were performed before and after the intervention at the participants' freely chosen walking speed.

Osteoarthritis - a role for weight management in rheumatology practice: an update.

Osteoarthritis (OA) and obesity are related diseases, which occur in a large proportion of the population. Epidemiological evidence show that weight is of great importance for the development of OA in the knee, and to some extent also in hip and finger joints. Once acquired, the OA contributes to further weight problems by decreasing the daily activity level.

Experimental knee pain reduces muscle strength.

Unlabelled: Pain is the principal symptom in knee pathologies and reduced muscle strength is a common observation among knee patients. However, the relationship between knee joint pain and muscle strength remains to be clarified. This study aimed at investigating the changes in knee muscle strength following experimental knee pain in healthy volunteers, and if these changes were associated with the pain intensities.

Is it possible to reduce the knee joint compression force during level walking with hiking poles?

Walking with hiking poles has become a popular way of exercising. Walking with poles is advocated as a physical activity that significantly reduces the loading of the hip, knee and ankle joints. We have previously observed that pole walking does not lead to a reduction of the load on the knee joint.

Motor responses to experimental Achilles tendon pain.

Background: Achilles tendinopathies are characterised by pain and reduced function, and heavy-load exercises have been shown to be effective in the treatment of painful chronic Achilles tendinopathies. However, basic information is needed on how the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of the exercise are affected by Achilles tendon pain.

Objective: The authors aimed to determine the effects of experimental Achilles tendon pain on motor function during one-legged weight bearing ankle plantar and dorsal flexion exercises.

Gait changes in patients with knee osteoarthritis are replicated by experimental knee pain.

Objective: Medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by pain and associated with abnormal knee moments during walking. The relationship between knee OA pain and gait changes remains to be clarified, and a better understanding of this link could advance the treatment and prevention of disease progression. This study investigated changes in knee moments during walking following experimental knee pain in healthy volunteers, and whether these changes replicated the joint moments observed in medial knee OA patients.

Biomechanical characteristics of the eccentric Achilles tendon exercise.

Background: Eccentric exercise has been shown to provide good short-term clinical results in the treatment of painful mid-portion chronic Achilles tendinopathies. However, the mechanisms behind the positive effects of eccentric rehabilitation regimes are not known, and research into the biomechanics of the exercise may improve our understanding.

Methods: Sixteen healthy subjects performed one-legged full weight bearing ankle plantar and dorsiflexion exercises during which three-dimensional ground reaction forces (GRF), ankle joint kinematics and surface electromyography (EMG) of the lower leg muscles were recorded.

Effect of whole body vibration exercise on muscle strength and proprioception in females with knee osteoarthritis.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of whole body vibration (WBV) exercise on muscle strength and proprioception in female patients with osteoarthritis in the knee (knee-OA). A single blinded, randomised, controlled trial was performed in an outpatient clinic on 52 female patients diagnosed with knee-OA (mean age 60.4 years+/-9.