Assessment of central aponeurosis curvature as an index of rectus femoris muscle overstrain in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: In medial knee osteoarthritis (knee OA), compensatory overstrain of the rectus femoris (RF) muscle leads to its hypertrophy. We hypothesize that besides hypertrophy of the RF, a prominent flattening of the central aponeurosis (CA) curvature is also indicative of RF. This study aims to evaluate the structural changes in the CA and clarify the conditions associated with RF overstrain in knee OA.

Alignment of the rearfoot and foot pressure patterns of individuals with medial tibial stress syndrome: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To compare the rearfoot alignment (leg-heel angle, LHA) during standing and walking, and foot pressure during walking between individuals with medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) and asymptomatic individuals participating in daily sports.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: Research laboratory.

In Vivo Flattening of the Central Aponeurosis of the Rectus Femoris Due to Knee Extension Torque in Healthy Young and Elderly Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis.

We aimed to elucidate the relationship between active force production and the curvature of the central aponeurosis (CA) of the rectus femoris in young healthy participants as fundamental data and compare the muscle CA curvature before and after straight leg raising (SLR) training in participants with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Central aponeurosis curvature was determined during submaximal and maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) using ultrasonography. Twenty-five young healthy female volunteers underwent ultrasonographic measurements under conditions of isometric MVC.

Ultrasonographic Morphologic Changes of the Central Aponeurosis of the Rectus Femoris Muscle in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis.

The aim of this study was to clarify the morphologic characteristics of central aponeurosis (CA) of the rectus femoris (RF) muscle in individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). Forty legs in 26 individuals with medial knee OA (OA group), 41 legs in 21 elderly individuals (elderly group), and 40 legs in 20 young individuals (young group) were investigated. We measured the following 4 parameters: (1) ratio of CA length, expressed as the percentage of RF length; (2) CA morphologic type (curved, straight, S-shaped, or irregular); (3) CA direction, defined as the direction of the line from the anterior to posterior ends of the CA (lateral or medial); and (4) intercondylar distance (ICD).

Foot pressure pattern and its correlation with knee range of motion limitations for individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To determine the foot pressure pattern of individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to analyze its relation with knee flexion/extension range of motion.

Design: Descriptive.

Setting: Rehabilitation center.