The relationship between external knee moments and muscle co-activation in subjects with medial knee osteoarthritis

Selistre, LFA; Mattiello, SM; Nakagawa, TN; Gonçalves, GH; Petrella, M; Jones, R

Abstract

Purpose: External knee moments are reliable to measure knee load but it does not take into
account muscle activity. Considering that muscle co-activation increases compressive forces
at the knee joint, identifying relationships between muscle co-activations and knee joint
load would complement the investigation of the knee loading in subjects with knee
osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to identify relationships between muscle coactivation
and external knee moments during walking in subjects with medial knee
osteoarthritis. Methods: 19 controls (11 males, aged 56.6 ±5, and BMI 25.2 ± 3.3) and 25
subjects with medial knee osteoarthritis (12 males, aged 57.3 ± 5.3, and BMI 28.2 ± 4) were
included in this study. Knee adduction and flexion moments, and co-activation (ratios and
sums of quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius) were assessed during walking and
compared between groups. The relationship between knee moments and co-activation was
investigated in both groups. Findings: subjects with knee osteoarthritis presented a
moderate and strong correlation between co-activation (ratios and sums) and knee
moments. Interpretation: Muscle co-activation should be used to measure the contribution
of quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius on knee loading. This information would
cooperate to develop a more comprehensive approach of knee loading in this population.

Citation

Selistre, L., Mattiello, S., Nakagawa, T., Gonçalves, G., Petrella, M., & Jones, R. (2017). The relationship between external knee moments and muscle co-activation in subjects with medial knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Electro - myography and Kinesiology, 33, 64-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.01.007

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 12, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jan 18, 2017
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jan 26, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 18, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology
• Print ISSN: 1050-6411
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 33
• Pages: 64-72
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.01.007
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.01.007
• Related Public URLs: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-electromyography-and-kinesiology/