Lower leg muscle atrophy in ankle osteoarthritis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine changes in the lower leg muscles associated with ankle osteoarthritis. Fifteen unilateral ankle osteoarthritis patients and fifteen age-gender-matched normal subjects were assessed with clinical [osteoarthritis latency time, pain, alignment, AOFAS ankle score, ankle range of motion (ROM), calf circumference], radiological (ankle osteoarthritis grading), and muscular-physiological parameters [isometric maximal voluntary ankle torque, surface electromyography of the anterior tibial (AT), medial gastrocnemius (MG), soleus (SO), and peroneus longus (PL) muscle]. The osteoarthritis patients had increased pain (6.8 points) and reduced AOFAS score (33.7 points) compared to the control group. Compared to the contralateral healthy leg, the arthritic leg showed reduced mean dorsi-/plantar flexion ROM (16.08), reduced mean calf circumference (2.1 cm), smaller mean dorsiflexion (16.4 Nm) and plantar flexion (15.8 Nm) torques, lower mean electromyography frequency for all muscles (AT À22.6 Hz; MG À27.3 Hz; SO À25.9 Hz; PL À28.5 Hz), and lower mean electromyography intensity in the AT [À28.0 Â 10 3 (mv) 2 ], MG [À13.3 Â 10 3 (mv) 2 ], and PL [À12.8 Â 10 3 (mv) 2 ]. SO mean electromyography intensity was not significantly changed [þ2.0 Â 10 3 (mv) 2 ]. Unilateral ankle osteoarthritis is associated with atrophic changes of the lower leg muscles. This study supports previous observations on muscle dysfunction in knee osteoarthritis. ß

Muscular atrophy of the lower leg in unilateral post traumatic osteoarthritis of the ankle joint

“…This inhibits the activity of the alpha-motor neurons, leading to secondary muscle atrophy from a reduction in muscle activity [9], a process also known as arthrogenic muscle inhibition, a reflex atrophy [10]. This is confirmed by previous clinical studies examining calf circumferences in patients with unilateral ankle joint OA showing a reduction on the affected side in comparison to the healthy side [11]. However, it is not known whether this phenomenon is due to a general atrophy of the whole lower leg muscle, or if individual muscle groups are specifically affected.…”

Intramedullary screw fixation in proximal fifth-metatarsal fractures in sports: clinical and biomechanical analysis

“…A signiWcance was found in the diVerent posterior tibial strength. This might resemble a diVerence of dominant leg and nondominant leg [26]. It is well known that the diVerent eVect of dominant leg and non-dominant leg is more obvious in the tibialis posterior muscle than in the peroneal muscles [26], coincidently the ratio of supination to pronation strength shows no signiWcant diVerence.…”

“…This might resemble a diVerence of dominant leg and nondominant leg [26]. It is well known that the diVerent eVect of dominant leg and non-dominant leg is more obvious in the tibialis posterior muscle than in the peroneal muscles [26], coincidently the ratio of supination to pronation strength shows no signiWcant diVerence. This study shows that there is an eversion weakness neither because of a preexisting factor [21] nor because of the fracture or surgical treatment.…”

Consequences of Ankle Inversion Trauma: A Novel Recognition and Treatment Paradigm

“…The vast majority of post-traumatic ankle OA research has been focused on patient-oriented evidence and the results consistently show, regardless of the scale used, that those with post-traumatic ankle OA have greater levels of self-reported disability relative to age matched controls. (Horisberger, Hintermann, & Valderrabano, 2009a;Hubbard, Hicks-Little, & Cordova, 2009b;Khazzam, Long, Marks, & Harris, 2006;Messenger, Anderson, & Wikstrom, 2011;Valderrabano et al, 2007;Valderrabano et al, 2006b) Clinical-oriented evidence shows similar impairments as those associated with acute LAS and CAI. Specifically, decreases in ankle muscle strength and increased mechanical stiffness have been observed relative to age matched controls.…”