The Relationship Between Pain, Muscle Strength and Lower Extremity Function in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a problem causing functional disability and impairing quality of life. The presence of factors that may cause functional disability is important for OA patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between pain, muscle strength and lower extremity function in patients with osteoarthritis.Methods: A total of 58 patients (5 male, 53 female) with a mean age of 60.63 ± 8.50 were included in the study. Pain level by Visual Pain Scale (VAS), muscle strength by Jamar Hand Held Dynamometer, and lower extremity functional level by Lower Extremity Functional Scale were evaluated.Results: The mean VAS value at rest was 3.54±0.33, while the mean VAS value during the activity was 6.28±0.28. The lower extremity functional scale results were 36.01±1.87 points. When comparing the muscle strength of the knee with and without OA, while there is a difference between the extension muscle strengths, no difference was found between flexion muscle strengths (p=.001, p=.580). Knee OA knee muscle strength was positively correlated with non-OA knee muscle strength and lower extremity functional scale (p<0.05). In addition, there was a negative correlation between functional level and activity pain (p<0.05). Conclusion:Knee muscle strength in osteoarthritis affects non-osteoarthritis knee muscle strength and lower extremity function. As muscle strength decreases, muscle strength and function level of the non-affected knee decreases. In addition, as the activity pain increases, the lower extremity functional level deteriorates. In the treatment of knee OA, reducing pain and increasing muscle strength may be important for improving function.