This study intended to determine if, by using coefficients of variation derived from data collected by Fisher [1989], it would be possible to develop prediction equations to discriminate between sincere and deceptive isokinetic knee extension tests, whether these equations could be applied to a new sample, and whether prediction accuracy is dependent on test speed. Fisher [1989] trained 76 college-age males subjects to either give a true maximal response or fake an injury during an isokinetic knee extension/flexion test at 60, 180, and 300 deg/sec. Data were transmitted to a computer running Segmental Curve Analysis [Wynn, 1988; Sebolt and Earles-Price, 1989], which computed six variables for each torque curve: peak torque (PT), torque at five degrees prior to and post-PT (T-5, T+5), area to five degrees prior to PT (A-5), area beyond five degrees post-PT (A+5), and area between five degrees pre- and post-PT (A55). Coefficients of variation were computed for each variable, which were used to develop prediction equations for each speed, and for all speeds combined. The prediction equations accurately predicted condition assignments (p = 0.572 - 0.79) when applied to Fisher's [1989] data. A second sample was solicited, trained, and tested in a manner similar to Fisher [1989], and the same prediction equations were applied. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the prediction accuracy of these equations between their application to Fisher's [1989] data or to data collected in the current study. Furthermore, there appeared to be no significant effect of test speed on prediction accuracy. These data suggest that coefficients of variation could be used to discriminate between sincere and deceptive isokinetic performances. / Master of Science

Thirty-two Virginia Tech varsity football players served as subjects to examine the effect of protective knee braces on agility and selected isokinetic strength, power, and endurance measures. Each subject performed the Semo agility test in each of three experimental conditions: braced with the Anderson knee stabler (B,An); braced with the Arco knee guard (Bâ Ar); and unbraced (Un). The order of agility tests was randomized. The subjects were than administered a Cybex knee extension/flexion test at 60 deg/sec and 300 deg/sec. Each subject performed the Cybex tests in each of the three experimental conditions (B-An, B-Ar, and Un). The order of Cybex tests was randomized. The test protocol consisted of three maximal repetitions at 60 deg/sec and 40 maximal repetitions at 300 deg/sec. The following isokinetic variables were recorded: (1) peak torque/body weight ratio of the quadriceps and hamstrings at 60 deg/sec and 300 deg/sec; (2) average range of motion for knee extension/flexion at 60 deg/sec and 300 deg/sec; (3) average power, torque acceleration energy, and endurance ratio of the quadriceps and hamstrings at 300 deg/sec. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed no significant difference (p > .05) in agility test scores between the three experimental conditions. Repeated measures analysis of variance also revealed no significant difference (p > .05) in the isokinetic responses of subjects as they were tested within the three experimental conditions. The investigator concluded that protective knee braces had no effect on agility, isokinetic strength, power, and endurance. / Master of Science

No description available.

No description available.

No / Objective Establish normative values for knee valgus angle during drop jump and step landings. Design Observational. Setting University biomechanics laboratory. Participants 100 physically active asymptomatic individuals (50 male, 50 female) aged 18–28 years old. Main outcome measures Knee valgus angle during drop jump and step landings. Results There were no differences between genders during the step landing task (p < 0.12) but there were differences during the drop jump landing task (p < 0.048). Both males and females showed no significant differences between sides for either of the tasks (p > 0.05) or between the valgus angle generated for either of the tasks (p > 0.05). Conclusion It would appear in order to be regarded as an average “normal” performance during a drop jump landing task knee valgus angle should be symmetrical and in the range of 7–13° for females and 3–8° for males. For a unilateral step landing task knee valgus angle should be symmetrical and in the range of 5–12° for females and 1–9° for males.

Medial Oxford unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) is an established and successful treatment for patients with antero-medial knee osteoarthritis. However, following the operation some patients have pain which compromises their functional outcome. The aims of this thesis were to determine the incidence of pain, to identify the patient, disease and surgical risk factors associated with this pain and to try and understand why it occurs. The clinical studies were performed using patients operated on by experienced surgeons. The incidence of post-operative severe pain was 3% at six weeks and 2% at one year and the incidence remained unchanged at subsequent follow ups. The overall incidence of pain has reduced over the years. In patients who had UKR between 1998 and 2001, the incidence of severe pain was 5%; this reduced to 2.3% for the period between 2008 and 2011. As the indications have not changed, the improvement is probably due to modifications in the surgical technique and due to improvements in instrumentation. Patients with severe pain at the final follow up had a worse neuropathic pain score, and the patients with possible pre-operative neuropathic pain achieved significantly worse outcome. To explore the effect of disease severity on outcome, matched cohorts of patients with partial thickness cartilage loss (PTCL), bone-on-bone and bone loss were compared. All those with bone-on-bone and bone loss did well, whereas 20% of those with PTCL did not benefit from the surgery; 7% had severe pain and 17% had pain related complications. Although component and leg alignment, and component overhang have a profound effect on the outcome of total knee replacement (TKR), their effect on the outcome of the Oxford UKR are not known. It was found that malalignment in the coronal or sagittal planes of the femoral component within ±10° and of the tibial component within ±5° did not compromise the outcome. Leg alignment was not related to outcome even though 18% were in 5° varus and 8% were in 10° varus. In contrast, tibial component overhang ≥3 mm compromised the outcome and 21% of these patients continue to suffer from pain. The presence of radiolucent lines (RLL) following a joint replacement is usually deemed to be indicative, or predictive, of loosening. 63% of Oxford UKRs were found to have RLL under the tibial component. No correlation was found between RLL and outcome, particularly pain. It has been suggested that post-operative pain, which is commonly antero-medial over the proximal tibia, may be related to bone overload. This was explored using the finite element (FE) analysis. Following implantation of the Oxford UKR, the strains in the antero-medial region doubled. Various implantation, loading and alignment variables were studied and the findings correlated with the clinical studies, suggesting that high strain is an important cause of pain. With time, the bone will remodel, so the strains will decrease but individual differences in the remodeling threshold may explain resolution of symptoms in some, but not in all, patients. In conclusion, this work has shown that following the Oxford UKR, pain is a rare but important complication. The chance of pain can be decreased by operating only on patients with bone-on-bone arthritis and taking care with the surgical technique. Bone overload is likely to be an important cause of pain, and further modification to the implant or technique, such as achieving fixation of the tibial component vertical wall to bone, may further decrease the incidence of pain.

Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia da palmilha em cunha medial na osteoartrite (OA) com joelho valgo. Método: 30 mulheres com OA de joelhos e deformidade em valgo > 8 graus, foram randomizados em 2 grupos: o experimental, que utilizou palmilha com elevação medial no retropé de 8 mm (n = 16) e o controle que usou uma palmilha similar, sem elevação (n = 14), e em ambos associou-se um estabilizador de tornozelo. Um examinador cego avaliou dor noturna, ao movimento e ao repouso (Escala Visual Analógica), índice de Lequesne e questionário WOMAC, e os ângulos femurotibial, talocalcâneo e de inclinação do talus, no início e após 8 semanas de uso das palmilhas. Resultados: No grupo experimental, houve redução da dor ao repouso (5,06 + 2,29 vs 2,73 + 2,40, p = 0,002), ao movimento (8,13 + 1,50 vs 4,20 + 2,36, p = 0,001), e noturna (6,06 + 2,74 vs 3,13 + 2,07, p = 0,001), Lequesne (14,75 + 3,36 vs 9,60 + 3,83, p = 0,001 ) e WOMAC (74,13 + 14,20 vs 56,13 + 14,94, p = 0,001). No grupo controle, houve apenas uma leve redução da dor noturna (5,79 + 2,39 vs 4,64 + 2,38, p = 0,019). Houve um aumento do ângulo femurotibial no grupo experimental (169,05 +3,43 vs 170,81 + 3,73, p = 0,001). Os demais ângulos permaneceram inalterados em ambos os grupos. Conclusão: O uso de palmilha em cunha medial foi eficaz no controle da osteoartrite do joelho valgo. / Objective: To assess the efficacy of medial-wedge insole in valgus knee osteoarthritis (OA). Method: 30 females with valgus deformity knee OA > 8 degrees were randomized into 2 groups: an experimental group, which used insoles with medial elevation at the hindfoot of 8 mm (n = 16), and a control group which used a similar insole without elevation (n = 14), where both groups also wore ankle supports. A blinded examiner assessed pain on movement, at rest and at night (Visual Analog Scale), the Lequesne index and WOMAC questionnaire, along with femorotibial, talocalcaneal and talar tilt angles, at baseline and following 8 weeks? insole use. Results: Reductions were observed in the experimental group for pain at rest (5.06 + 2.29 vs 2.73 + 2.40, p = 0.002), on movement (8.13 + 1.50 vs 4.20 + 2.36, p = 0.001), at night (6.06 + 2.74 vs 3.13 + 2.07, p = 0.001), and in Lequesne (14.75 + 3.36 vs 9.60 + 3.83, p = 0.001 ) and WOMAC scores (74.13 + 14.20 vs 56.13 + 14.94, p = 0.001). For the control group, only a slight reduction in night pain was seen (5.79 + 2.39 vs 4.64 + 2.38, p = 0.019). There was an increase in the femorotibial angle in the experimental group (169.05 +3.43 vs 170.81 + 3.73, p = 0.001). The other angles remained unchanged in both groups. Conclusion: The use of medial-wedge insoles proved effective in controlling symptoms of valgus knee osteoarthritis

A Síndrome da Dor Anterior no Joelho (SDAJ) caracteriza-se por uma dor difusa retropatelar e peripatelar na articulação do joelho, exacerbada por atividades de sobrecarga sobre a articulação femoropatelar. Muitos estudos têm sido realizados no sentido de compreender os mecanismos causadores da SDAJ e suas consequências. Entre os aspectos pesquisados encontram-se a ativação muscular, relação de ativação e de capacidade de geração de força entre os músculos vasto medial e vasto lateral, a força quadriciptal e dos músculos do quadril, e as alterações mecânicas do membro inferior. Segundo a literatura, um dos principais fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento dessa patologia é a fraqueza dos extensores do joelho. A fraqueza dos extensores do joelho pode estar associada à inibição muscular (IM) que o músculo quadríceps femoral sofre em função dos estímulos dolorosos. Esta alteração na geração de força e na capacidade de ativação muscular parecem alterar a morfologia do quadríceps e influenciar as alterações mecânicas ao nível da articulação femoropatelar. Para o melhor do nosso conhecimento, não foi encontrado na literatura nenhum estudo sistemático que investigasse simultaneamente os diversos aspectos da SDAJ, tentando assim estabelecer uma relação entre os aspectos morfológicos, mecânicos e elétricos dos extensores do joelho com a SDAJ. O presente estudo tem por objetivo comparar as propriedades mecânicas, morfológicas e mioelétricas dos extensores do joelho entre sujeitos acometidos pela SDAJ e um grupo controle saudável (GC). Nossa hipótese era de que os pacientes com SDAJ apresentarão uma redução nas propriedades mecânicas, morfológicas e mioelétricas dos extensores do joelho em decorrência da inibição muscular (IM) crônica produzida pela síndrome. Além disso, o estudo também tem por objetivo avaliar se existe diferença na metodologia de aplicação da técnica de interpolação de abalo para avaliação da IM do quadríceps a partir da comparação do uso de estímulos elétricos supramáximos sobre o nervo femoral (padrão ouro) com a estimulação sobre o ponto motor (nova metodologia) em sujeitos saudáveis e indivíduos com SDAJ. Nossa hipótese era de que a estimulação sobre o ponto motor será menos desconfortável que sobre o nervo femoral e os resultados de IM serão menos variáveis (com uma menor dispersão) em função desse menor desconforto. No Capítulo I, foi realizado um levantamento da literatura sobre as variáveis que foram avaliadas no decorrer do estudo, buscando informar ao leitor o que já foi feito na área, as lacunas e contradições acerca da SDAJ. No Capítulo II, foi realizado um estudo transversal sobre a avaliação da IM do quadríceps femoral, a partir da Técnica de Interpolação de Abalo (ITT), com a aplicação do abalo sobre o nervo femoral (NF) e sobre o ponto motor (PM). Vinte e nove sujeitos do sexo feminino, com idade entre 20 e 40 anos, sintomáticas (SDAJ, n=16) e assintomáticas (GC, n=13) para SDAJ, foram submetidas a avaliação da IM sobre o PM e NF no ângulo de 60° de flexão do joelho (0°=extensão máxima). Os resultados demonstraram que, para o grupo SDAJ, o PM apresenta resultados inferiores de IM comparado ao NF; já para o GC, os resultados foram semelhantes entre os dois pontos de estimulação. No Capítulo III foram realizadas avaliações da capacidade funcional, da IM e das propriedades mecânicas, morfológicas e mioelétricas dos extensores do joelho. Trinta e duas mulheres, com idade entre 20 e 40 anos, sintomáticas (SDAJ, n=16) e assintomáticas (GC, n=16) para SDAJ, foram avaliadas. Os resultados apontam para uma maior IM e reduções na capacidade funcional, no torque isométrico, na espessura da cartilagem femoropatelar e na arquitetura muscular do grupo SDAJ em relação ao GC. A revisão de literatura realizada no Capítulo I demonstrou que a literatura apresenta divergências sobre as alterações neuromecânicas decorrentes da SDAJ em mulheres. Os resultados do Capítulo II indicam que a avaliação da IM por meio da ITT é melhor tolerada por mulheres jovens sintomáticas para SDAJ quando avaliada no NF em comparação ao PM. Já no Capítulo III foram observados maiores valores de IM e reduções na capacidade funcional, torque isométrico, espessura da cartilagem femoropatelar e arquitetura muscular nos sujeitos com SDAJ em comparação ao GC saudável. / The Anterior Knee Pain (AKP) syndrome is characterized by retropatellar and peripatellar diffuse pain in the knee joint, exacerbated by overloading activities on the patellofemoral joint. Many studies have been carried out to understand the causal mechanisms of AKP and its consequences. Among the researched aspects are muscle activation, relationship of activation and capacity of strength generation between the vastus medialis and the vastus lateralis muscles, the strength of quadriceps and hip muscles, and mechanical changes of the lower limb. According to the literature, one of the main risk factors for the development of this pathology is the knee extensors weakness. This knee extensors weakness might be associated with the muscle inhibition (MI) that the femoral quadriceps muscle suffers as a result of painful stimuli. These changes in strength generation and muscle activation capacity appear to change the quadriceps morphology and influence mechanical changes at the patellofemoral joint level. To the best of our knowledge, there is no systematic study in the literature that simultaneously investigated the various aspects of AKP, trying to establish a relationship between the morphological, mechanical and electrical aspects of the knee extensors in subjects with AKP. This study aimed to compare the knee extensors mechanical, morphological and myoelectric properties between subjects affected by AKP and a control group (CG). Our hypothesis was that patients with AKP should present a reduction in the knee extensors mechanical, morphological and myoelectric properties due to chronic muscle inhibition (MI) produced by the syndrome. In addition, the study also aimed to evaluate whether there are differences in methodology for application of the interpolated twitch technique for evaluation of the quadriceps MI by comparing the use of supramaximal electrical stimulation on the femoral nerve (gold standard) with stimulation on the motor point (new methodology) in healthy subjects and subjects affected by AKP. Our hypothesis was that the stimulation on the motor point should be less uncomfortable than on the femoral nerve and MI results should be less variable (with lower dispersion) due to such lower discomfort. In Chapter I, a literature review on the variables that were evaluated throughout the study was carried out, seeking to inform the reader on what has already been done in the area, on gaps and contradictions regarding AKP. Chapter II presents a transversal study on the assessment of the quadriceps MI with the use of the Interpolated Twitch Technique (ITT), with application of twitch on the femoral nerve (FN) and on the motor point (MP). Twenty-nine women, aged between 20 and 40 years, symptomatic (AKP, n=16) and asymptomatic (CG, n=13) for AKP, were subjected to evaluation of MI on the MP and FN at an angle of 60° of knee flexion (0°=fully extended). Results showed that, for the AKP group, MP has inferior results of MI when compared to FN; results are similar between the two stimulation points for the CG. In Chapter III, evaluations of functional capacity, MI and knee extensors mechanical, morphological and myoelectric properties were carried out. Thirty-two women, aged between 20 and 40 years, symptomatic (AKP, n =16) and asymptomatic (CG, n =16) for AKP were evaluated. Results indicated greater MI and reductions in functional capacity, in isometric torque, in patellofemoral cartilage thickness and in muscle architecture in the AKP group compared to CG. Results from literature review conducted in Chapter I showed disagreement about neuromechanics changes resulting from SDAJ in women. Chapter II results indicated that the evaluation of IM through ITT is better tolerated by young women symptomatic for SDAJ when evaluated in the NF compared to the PM. Chapter III showed higher MI values and reductions in functional capacity, isometric torque, patellofemoral cartilage thickness and muscle architecture in subjects with SDAJ compared to a healthy GC.

Introduction: Arthroscopic partial resection of degenerative meniscal injuries has previously been frequently performed but has been questioned in recent years. However, contradictory data exist. Aim: We aimed to asses patient- reported outcome in patients over 40 years of age after arthroscopic surgery due to degenerative meniscal injury. We further aimed to compare women and men due to diagnosis and to examine the number of patients that have needed knee arthroplasty during the follow-up period. Methods: Patients &gt; 40 years of age who underwent arthroscopic surgery of the knee in the years of 2011-2013 were studied using validated questionnaire KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) along with a self-constructed questionnaire. Results: In all subjects, the highest median score was seen in all daily living (Women:93, Men: 96) and knee pain (Women: 86, Men: 92). The lowest score was seen in sports and recreation (Women: 55, Men: 65). Men had an overall higher KOOS-score in every subscale compared to women (p&gt;0.05). No significant difference was seen between women and men divided by diagnosis (p&gt;0.05). 72% women and 80% men experienced improved knee function today compared to before surgery. 22% women and 14% men experienced deterioration in knee function. 6% women and men experienced unaltered knee function. 24 patients (9.5%) had got a knee arthroplasty. Conclusions: This study showed that most middle-age patients experienced increased knee function and high satisfaction rate after partial meniscectomy when suffering from degenerative meniscal injury.

Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia da palmilha em cunha medial na osteoartrite (OA) com joelho valgo. Método: 30 mulheres com OA de joelhos e deformidade em valgo > 8 graus, foram randomizados em 2 grupos: o experimental, que utilizou palmilha com elevação medial no retropé de 8 mm (n = 16) e o controle que usou uma palmilha similar, sem elevação (n = 14), e em ambos associou-se um estabilizador de tornozelo. Um examinador cego avaliou dor noturna, ao movimento e ao repouso (Escala Visual Analógica), índice de Lequesne e questionário WOMAC, e os ângulos femurotibial, talocalcâneo e de inclinação do talus, no início e após 8 semanas de uso das palmilhas. Resultados: No grupo experimental, houve redução da dor ao repouso (5,06 + 2,29 vs 2,73 + 2,40, p = 0,002), ao movimento (8,13 + 1,50 vs 4,20 + 2,36, p = 0,001), e noturna (6,06 + 2,74 vs 3,13 + 2,07, p = 0,001), Lequesne (14,75 + 3,36 vs 9,60 + 3,83, p = 0,001 ) e WOMAC (74,13 + 14,20 vs 56,13 + 14,94, p = 0,001). No grupo controle, houve apenas uma leve redução da dor noturna (5,79 + 2,39 vs 4,64 + 2,38, p = 0,019). Houve um aumento do ângulo femurotibial no grupo experimental (169,05 +3,43 vs 170,81 + 3,73, p = 0,001). Os demais ângulos permaneceram inalterados em ambos os grupos. Conclusão: O uso de palmilha em cunha medial foi eficaz no controle da osteoartrite do joelho valgo. / Objective: To assess the efficacy of medial-wedge insole in valgus knee osteoarthritis (OA). Method: 30 females with valgus deformity knee OA > 8 degrees were randomized into 2 groups: an experimental group, which used insoles with medial elevation at the hindfoot of 8 mm (n = 16), and a control group which used a similar insole without elevation (n = 14), where both groups also wore ankle supports. A blinded examiner assessed pain on movement, at rest and at night (Visual Analog Scale), the Lequesne index and WOMAC questionnaire, along with femorotibial, talocalcaneal and talar tilt angles, at baseline and following 8 weeks? insole use. Results: Reductions were observed in the experimental group for pain at rest (5.06 + 2.29 vs 2.73 + 2.40, p = 0.002), on movement (8.13 + 1.50 vs 4.20 + 2.36, p = 0.001), at night (6.06 + 2.74 vs 3.13 + 2.07, p = 0.001), and in Lequesne (14.75 + 3.36 vs 9.60 + 3.83, p = 0.001 ) and WOMAC scores (74.13 + 14.20 vs 56.13 + 14.94, p = 0.001). For the control group, only a slight reduction in night pain was seen (5.79 + 2.39 vs 4.64 + 2.38, p = 0.019). There was an increase in the femorotibial angle in the experimental group (169.05 +3.43 vs 170.81 + 3.73, p = 0.001). The other angles remained unchanged in both groups. Conclusion: The use of medial-wedge insoles proved effective in controlling symptoms of valgus knee osteoarthritis