THE ASSOCIATION OF ABNORMALITIES ON PHYSICAL-EXAMINATION OF THE HIP AND KNEE WITH LOCOMOTOR DISABILITY IN THE ROTTERDAM STUDY

To assess the influence of abnormalities found on physical examination of the hips and knees on disability 1156 men and 1739 women aged grea ter than or equal to 55 yr (the Rotterdam Study) were asked about loco motor disability (LD) using six questions of the Health Assessment Que stionnaire (HAQ). The prevalence of LD was 20.2% for men and 31.9% for women. Moderately restricted range of motion of the hips and knees oc curred in 34.5% of the men and 38.6% of the women. The prevalence of i nstability of the knees was 12.5% For men and 16.8% for women. Varus d eformity in men (10.1%) and valgus deformity in women (15.0%) were the most common deformities of the knees. Restricted flexion of the hips was the strongest determinant of LD. Age-adjusted odds ratios for rest ricted hip flexion of LD were 4.7 (95% CT: 3.2-6.8) for men and 3.5 (2 .7-4.5) for women. Valgus deformity, knee instability and obliquity we re risk factors only in women. Adjustment of these odds ratios for mor ning stiffness and joint pain did not alter the estimates.