Motor Unit Properties in Knee Osteoarthritis
Author Information
Author(s): Michael J Berger, David G Chess, Timothy J Doherty
Primary Institution: The University of Western Ontario
Hypothesis
Motor unit recruitment and rate coding strategies will be altered in the presence of chronic knee pain associated with OA.
Conclusion
Motor unit recruitment and firing rate are altered in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Supporting Evidence
- Maximum knee extension torque was ~22% lower in the OA group.
- During submaximal contractions, size-related parameters of the needle MUPs were greater in the OA group.
- MUP firing rates were significantly lower in the OA group.
Takeaway
People with knee osteoarthritis use their muscles differently than healthy people, which might be because of pain.
Methodology
The study assessed vastus medialis motor unit properties in 8 patients with knee OA and 8 healthy controls during submaximal isometric contractions.
Limitations
The study did not obtain information about motor units recruited at higher contraction intensities and had a large variability in clinical severity in the OA group.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 8 patients with knee OA and 8 healthy controls, matched for sex and age.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.11
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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