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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Knee Osteoarthritis | Research

Quadriceps strength is negatively associated with knee joint structural abnormalities—data from osteoarthritis initiative

Authors: Ze Gong, Jia Li, Zijun He, Shilin Li, Peihua Cao, Guangfeng Ruan, Yan Zhang, Qing Zeng, Rong Chen, Peng Zheng, Tao Fan, Yijin Zhao, Pengcheng Lu, Zhaohua Zhu, Guozhi Huang

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the longitudinal associations between baseline quadriceps strength and knee joint structural abnormalities in knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods

This study is a longitudinally observational study based on Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort, including men and women aged 45–79. Quadriceps strength was measured by isometric knee extension testing at baseline. Knee joint structural abnormalities, including cartilage damage, bone marrow lesions (BMLs), effusion-synovitis and Hoffa-synovitis, were evaluated by Magnetic Resonance Imaging Osteoarthritis Knee Score (MOAKS) at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Generalized estimating equations were employed to examine the associations between quadriceps strength and knee structural abnormalities. All analyses were stratified by sex.

Results

One thousand three hundred thirty-eight participants (523 men and 815 women) with a mean age of 61.8 years and a mean BMI of 29.4 kg/m2 were included in this study. For men, no significantly longitudinal association of quadriceps strength with structural abnormalities was detected. In contrast, quadriceps strength was significantly and negatively associated with changes in cartilage damage and BMLs in lateral patellofemoral joint (PFJ) (cartilage damage: OR: 0.91, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.99, P = 0.023; BMLs: OR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.96, P = 0.011) and effusion-synovitis (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.99, P = 0.045) among females longitudinally. Higher quadriceps strength was significantly associated with less progression of lateral PFJ cartilage damage, BMLs and effusion-synovitis in females.

Conclusions

Higher quadriceps strength was associated with changes in cartilage damage and BMLs within the lateral PFJ and effusion-synovitis among females, suggesting the potential protective role of quadriceps strength on joint structures in women.
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Metadata
Title
Quadriceps strength is negatively associated with knee joint structural abnormalities—data from osteoarthritis initiative
Authors
Ze Gong
Jia Li
Zijun He
Shilin Li
Peihua Cao
Guangfeng Ruan
Yan Zhang
Qing Zeng
Rong Chen
Peng Zheng
Tao Fan
Yijin Zhao
Pengcheng Lu
Zhaohua Zhu
Guozhi Huang
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05635-9

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