ISOKINETIC AND ISOMETRIC STRENGTH IN OSTEOARTHROSIS OF THE KNEE - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY WITH HEALTHY WOMEN

Dynamic stability of the knee joint depends on the appropriate strengt h ratio of quadriceps and hamstring muscles. The purpose of this inves tigation was to determine the maximum peak torque (MPT) and MPT ratios of hamstrings to quadriceps (H/Q) muscles in patients with knee osteo arthritis (OA). Two groups of patients were included in the study. The first group consisted of 30 patients (Group A) with the clinical and radiologic findings of knee OA. The second group consisted of 30 patie nts (Group B) exhibiting knee joint pain without roentgenologic findin gs of knee OA. The findings of two patient groups were compared with e ach other and also with 30 healthy subjects (Group C). Isokinetic (at 60 degrees/s and at 180 degrees/s) and isometric (at 30 degrees and at 60 degrees of knee flexion) tests were performed by the rate-limiting isokinetic dynamometer system. Isokinetic and isometric MPT loss of k nee flexors and extensors was found in both patient groups with respec t to controls, but MPT ratios of H/Q muscles did not show a statistica lly significant difference compared with the control group. This may b e related to the equal strength loss of knee flexors and knee extensor s in patients with knee OA. It is concluded that strengthening exercis es of hamstring muscles is as important as quadriceps strengthening in rehabilitation of knee OA.