J. Wessel, ISOMETRIC STRENGTH MEASUREMENTS OF KNEE EXTENSORS IN WOMEN WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE, Journal of rheumatology, 23(2), 1996, pp. 328-331
Objective. To compare torque-angle characteristics of the knee extenso
rs of women with and without osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, and to d
etermine the reliability of these measures. Methods. The isometric tor
que of the knee extensors of both legs was tested on 3 occasions in 17
women with OA of the knee and 17 healthy women. Tests were performed
on an isokinetic dynamometer at 3 knee angles (30 degrees, 60 degrees,
90 degrees). The peak torque values were subjected to 4 way analysis
of variance (group vs leg vs angle vs time), and intraclass correlatio
n coefficients were calculated. Results. The reliability coefficients
for repeated measures of isometric torque varied from 0.83 to 0.94 in
the OA group and from 0.90 to 0.95 in the comparison group. The ANOVA
and post hoc analyses revealed that the OA group had significantly (p
<0.05) lower knee extensor torque than the comparison, group, and that
the more symptomatic OA knee had lower torque than the contralateral
limb. The torque was different across the 3 angles, but the torque-ang
le relationship was the same for both groups. Conclusion. Isometric to
rque of the knee extensors can be measured reliably in women with OA o
f the knee. The torque is lower in women with OA than in women with no
knee problems, and the changes are similar across different knee angl
es.