The Effects of Knee Pain on the Quadriceps Strength, Proprioception and Balance in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis / 대한스포츠의학회지

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of knee pain on the quadriceps strength, proprioception and balance in subjects with bilateral knee osteoarthritis and the correlation between muscle strength, proprioception, and balance in knee osteoarthritis patients with knee pain. The inclusion criteria were symptomatic and radiographic bilateral knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade > or =2), visual analogue scale difference of the both knees > or =2. Thirty three participants (32 women, 1 men: mean age, 59.18 years) underwent assessment of maximal voluntary contraction of quadriceps and hamstring muscles, knee proprioceptive acuity (measure passive joint reposition sense) and balance index using Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer and Biodex balance System. In this study, the more pain knee had weaker quadriceps strength than less pain knee (p0.05). Poor proprioception was associated with low quadriceps strength and poor Medio-lateral Stability Index (p<0.05). Future studies needed to account the influence of pain on neuromuscular factors as well as attempt to further clarify the relationships between these factors.

The Effects of Knee Pain on the Quadriceps Strength, Proprioception and Balance in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis / 대한스포츠의학회지

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of knee pain on the quadriceps strength, proprioception and balance in subjects with bilateral knee osteoarthritis and the correlation between muscle strength, proprioception, and balance in knee osteoarthritis patients with knee pain. The inclusion criteria were symptomatic and radiographic bilateral knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade > or =2), visual analogue scale difference of the both knees > or =2. Thirty three participants (32 women, 1 men: mean age, 59.18 years) underwent assessment of maximal voluntary contraction of quadriceps and hamstring muscles, knee proprioceptive acuity (measure passive joint reposition sense) and balance index using Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer and Biodex balance System. In this study, the more pain knee had weaker quadriceps strength than less pain knee (p0.05). Poor proprioception was associated with low quadriceps strength and poor Medio-lateral Stability Index (p<0.05). Future studies needed to account the influence of pain on neuromuscular factors as well as attempt to further clarify the relationships between these factors.

Perception of Balance Training and Evaluation / 대한스포츠의학회지

The purpose of this study was to survey the athletic trainers' recognition, need and evaluation for balance training and to investigate training and evaluation methods in the actual implementation. One hundred fifty trainers were participated in the survey. The study questionnaire of 24 encompassed five separated issues; basic characteristics of trainers, awareness and the need for balance, balance assessment and training content, assessment and training equipment, and education and need. Balance training were recognized as simple balance training in 20.7% of trainers, and as proprioception in 64.9%. Trainers with high needs of balance training were 69.4%. The percentage of trainers with protocol of balance training were 73.9%, and the trainers with complex equipments including software and hardware were 66.7%. Trainers with needs of education for training protocol, theoretical education for balance, and training equipment were 79.3%, 56.8%, and 63.1%. The results showed that educations for concept of balance training and sports injury rehabilitation, and research opportunities had to be provided to athlete trainers. We think that the results of this study can help athlete trainers to apply high-quality sports rehabilitation for athletes.

Seated Postural Control in Elderly on Unstable Plate

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences of the postural control in unstable sitting position between elderly and young adults. METHOD: Twenty five healthy elderly and twenty five healthy young adults were included. The evaluation system for postural control consisted of unstable plate, frame, safety harness, monitor and computer. Subjects sat on an unstable plate with arms crossed. Using two tilt sensor and postural control software in unstable platform measured the center of pressure (COP) of subject. COP sway (COP was maintained on the center circle and the distance from the central location for 30 sec) time and mean absolute deviation (MAD), COP maintaining (COP was maintained on the desired target in anterior, posterior, left or right directions during 30 sec) time and MAD, COP moving time (the time required to move the COP to desired target location away from center), COP sine curve maintaining (COP was maintained on the circle on moving sine curve during 30 sec) time and MAD were recorded in both groups. Each subject performed three trials and the mean value of the trials was used for analysis. RESULTS: In static evaluation, there was no significant difference in COP sway between two groups. In dynamic evaluations, elderly showed significantly decreased maintaining time in all four directions, decreased sine curve trace and increased moving time in all eight directions (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Elderly revealed significantly impaired dynamic sitting postural control, regardless of directions. It might be related to decreased movement and proprioception of trunk.

Biomechanical Adjustments in Lumbar Spine Associated with Sudden Upper Limb Loading

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the response of back muscle, the flexion moment and the kinematic change of lumbar spine during sudden upper limb loading between expected and unexpected conditions. METHOD: 23 healthy young subjects (13 male and 10 female, mean age 26.6+/-3.3) were recruited. We measured the latency of paraspinal muscle contraction (erector spinae and lumbar multifidus), flexion moment of lumbar spine, and kinematic change of lumbar spine during sudden upper limb loading by using surface EMG system, motion analysis system, and force platform. 6 trials with 3 eye opened and 3 eye closed were performed randomly. RESULTS: The latency of paraspinal muscle contractions was significantly slower during eyes closed condition than during eyes opened condition after sudden upper limb loading (p<0.05). The flexion moment and the flexion change of lumbar spine increased significantly during eyes closed condition compared with eyes opened condition (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The response of paraspinal muscle was significantly slower and the flexion moment and the flexion change of lumbar spine was higher during unexpected condition than during expected condition after sudden upper limb loading. Therefore, the spinal stability is more decreased during unexpected condition than expected condition.

Reliability of Dynamic Posturography with Unstable Platform to Evaluate Seated Postural Control

OBJECTIVE: To examine the repeatability and the reproducibility of a new evaluation system for seated postural control. METHOD: A total of 30 healthy volunteers (12 male, 18 female, mean age 25.1+/-3.4) participated in this study: 15 for repeatability and 15 for reproducibility study. We invented a new device for the assessment of seated postural control. The device was consisted of unstable platform, force plate, frame, safety harness, monitor and computer. Force plate on unstable platform measured the center of pressure (COP) of subject. COP maintaining time, COP moving time and COP sine curve trace were recorded. Each subject was tested three times with an interval of 3 days between the test sessions. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between male and female in each parameter. There were no significant differences in COP maintaining time, COP moving time and COP sine curve trace when tested repetitively. ICC for both the repeatability and the reproducibility showed good to excellent reliability for all variables (ICC, 0.60~0.99) except posterior and right-posterior moving time. CONCLUSION: This newly designed system for seated postural control using unstable platform proved to be a reliable tool. It may be a useful method to assess the seated postural control.