Abstract
BACKGROUND: Muscle function and functional performance are affected in patients with osteoarthritis (OA).
PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between knee OA and ankle proprioception and concentric peak torque of the dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor muscles in older patients.
METHODS: Forty participants took part in the study; 20 participants with chronic unilateral knee OA and a control group of 20 healthy participants. Ankle proprioception and concentric peak torque were measured by an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex).
MAIN RESULTS: There was a significantly greater absolute error at the ankle among the knee OA group (p = 0.0001). The concentric peak torque value of dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor muscles of the control group was significantly higher than the knee OA group (p = 0.003, p = 0.008) respectively.
CONCLUSION: Those with OA of the knee displayed deficits in ankle proprioception and concentric peak torque of the dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor muscles.
