Effect of Age and Activity on Knee Joint Proprioception1

Abstract

Falls lead to significant morbidity and mortality in persons older than 65 years of age. Impaired proprioception may be a contributing factor to falls, and this may be influenced by the level of habitual physical activity. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate knee joint proprioception among young volunteers and active and sedentary elderly volunteers. Knee joint proprioception was measured through reproduction of static knee angles using a Penny and Giles electrogoniometer. The secondary purpose of this investigation was to test the reproducibility of the Penny and Giles electrogoniometer in measuring static knee angles. Sixteen young subjects (age range, 19-27 years) and 24 elderly subjects (age range, 60-86 years) participated. Subjects were given a screening history and physical examination to exclude neuromuscular or vestibular disorders or lower limb injuries. Knee joint proprioception was measured two times during one week. The elderly group was separated into active and sedentary subgroups based on their level of activity during the past year. The electrogoniometer was placed laterally across the dominant knee joint. From the prone position each subject attained one of ten randomly predetermined knee joint angles from 10 degrees to 60 degrees. The subject then returned to the starting position and reproduced the test angle. The absolute angular error (the absolute difference between the test angle and subject perceived angle of knee flexion) was determined. A positive correlation was found between control visits for all subjects (r = 0.88), and significant differences were observed between young (mean, 2.01 +/- 0.46 degrees) and active-fold (mean, 3.12 +/- 1.12 degrees; P < 0.001), young and sedentary-old (mean, 4.58 +/- 1.93 degrees; P < 0.001), and active-old and sedentary-old (P < 0.03). These findings demonstrate that the Penny and Giles electrogoniometer is a reproducible device for measuring knee joint angles in both young and elderly subjects. Furthermore, we found that proprioception is diminished with age and that regular activity may attenuate this decline. One strategy to reduce the incidence of poor proprioception and fall with ageing may be regular exercise.

Manual aiming in healthy aging: does proprioceptive acuity make the difference?

“…The limitation was not addressed as it is extremely difficult to accurately quantify one's lifelong history of physical activity. As a result, dividing participants based on the results of a physical activity questionnaire remains a common practice in motor control research (e.g., Adamo et al 2007;Adamo et al 2009;McGregor et al 2011;Petrella et al 1997;Pickard et al 2003;Wright et al 2011).…”

Aging effects on joint proprioception: the role of physical activity in proprioception preservation

“…Indeed, several studies showed a relationship between aging and decline in several aspects of proprioceptive sensitivity, namely a decrease in joint position sense and an increase in movement detection threshold. The lower limb, knee joint position sense [6,27,30,37,49,51], and ankle joint position sense [41,55,76,82] are negatively affected by aging. Similarly, in the upper limb, a decline in elbow [56] and finger [19] joint position sense was observed.…”

“…Based on this, Petrella et al [51] designed a study to investigate knee joint proprioception among young volunteers and active and sedentary elderly volunteers. Knee joint proprioception was measured through reproduction of static knee angles using an electrogoniometer.…”

“…Motor coordination and balance are abilities that decline during the aging process, at least partially, by the deterioration of proprioception [11,30,49,51,63]. The somatosensory system and, specifically, the proprioceptive system, are critically involved in the sensory control of balance.…”

Effects of Vibration Stimuli on the Knee Joint Reposition Error of Elderly Women

“…However, abnormalities of the structures around joints due to injury or disease prevent proprioceptive functions from respond properly to movements, and may subsequently result in declines of posture control, protective reflex, joint motion, and balance reactions in response to postural disturbance 2,3) . Petrella et al 4) reported that joint reposition errors of elderly people, who were aged 65 or over, increased along with the aging, and that the increase was associated with the decline in the proprioceptive sense. Hurley et al 5) also reported that aging decreased joint position sense, accompanying muscle weakness of the lower limbs and decreases in standing stability.…”