Knee osteoarthritis affects approximately 25 million adults. In severe cases, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most common solution. TKA is effective at addressing pain and reducing continued degeneration of articular cartilage. However, effective physical therapy (PT) following TKA is vital for a full functional recovery. Despite the importance of PT, half of patients never achieve a full functional recovery. Decreases in proprioceptive feedback, severe atrophy, and pain inhibition all likely contribute to the variability in effectiveness. Surface electromyography-based biofeedback (sEMGBF) may allow clinicians to address some of these barriers by supplementing proprioceptive feedback and targeting small muscle contractions before eventually increasing the contraction requirement. Using a between group design, we compare the effectiveness of sEMGBF (7) to neuromuscular stimulation (NMES) (6), and a control group (6) in recovery following TKA. Effectiveness was evaluated across 4 metrics (quadriceps strength, range of motion, functional improvement, and quality of life) in a pre-test/post-test fashion. At the statistical level this study suggest that sEMGBF leads to greater improvements in quadriceps strength relative to the NMES and control group. Additionally, visual analysis suggests that sEMGBF may also lead to greater improvements in range of motion, and functional improvement relative to the NMES and control group. The results for quality of life are mixed. Overall, the study provides initial clinical support for the utility of sEMGBF following TKA.

L’objectif de ce travail était de développer des stratégies éducatives en association avec une cure thermale à destination de patients porteurs de gonarthrose, avec un objectif non seulement d’efficacité clinique et psychologique mais aussi d’amélioration du niveau d’activité physique. Au total, 745 patients souffrants de gonarthrose ont été recrutés sur les 9 stations thermales membre du Cluster Innovatherm et répartis dans les 3 études composant ce projet. La première étude porte sur l’analyse qualitative des freins et des leviers à la pratique d’activité physique. La seconde étude a mesuré le niveau d’activité physique et analysé les facteurs influençant la régularité de la pratique. La troisième étude a évalué les effets d’un programme d’éducation à l’exercice en milieu thermal. L’analyse des résultats des 2 premières études a montré que le niveau d’activité physique des gonarthrosiques était significativement dépendant de certaines données sociodémographiques, anthropométriques (genre, indice de masse corporelle, obésité), de facteurs extrinsèques (lieu de vie, situation familiale) et de facteurs intrinsèques (motivation, bien être, « self-efficacy », fatigue, vieillissement, peur d’aggraver la gonarthrose). La troisième étude a montré que le traitement thermal associé ou non aux ateliers d’éducation à l’exercice permettait d’augmenter significativement le niveau d’activité physique, avec un effet taille moyen de 0.53 [0.28;0.77] à 3 mois. Les ateliers d’éducation à l’exercice ont un effet bénéfique significatif sur l’anxiété, la dépression et les peurs et croyances (sous item médecin du KOFBeQ), à 3 mois. Ces études confirment l’impact du traitement thermal sur les paramètres cliniques de la gonarthrose et fournissent de nouvelles données concernant ce traitement sur l’évolution du niveau d’activité physique. Cette étude argumente en faveur de l’effet cognitif et psychologique du programme d’éducation à l’exercice. / The aim of this work was to develop educational strategies in association with spa therapy treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis, with a goal not only of clinical, psychological but also of improvement of the level of physical activity. A total of 745 patients with knee osteoarthritis were recruited from the 9 member’s thermal spa of the Innovatherm Cluster and distributed among the 3 studies building this project. The first study looked at the qualitative analysis of facilitators and barriers to physical activity. The second study on the level of physical activity and the analysis of the factors influencing the practice. The third study evaluated the effects of a self-management exercise education program in spa therapy resort. Analysis of the results of studies 1 and 2 showed the level of physical activity was significantly dependent on certain anthropometric data (gender, BMI, obesity), extrinsic factors (life situation, family situation) and intrinsic factors (motivation, well-being, self-efficacy, fatigue, aging, fear of aggravating knee osteoarthritis). Study 3 showed that spa treatment associated with or without self-management exercise program significantly increases the physical activity level, with medium effect size 0.53 [0.28; 0.77] at 3 months. Exercise education has a significant beneficial effect between groups in favor of the intervention group on anxiety, depression and fears and beliefs. These studies confirm the impact of spa therapy treatment on the clinical parameters of osteoarthritis and provide new data on the increase of the physical activity level and argue in favor of the cognitive and psychological effect of the self-management exercise program.

Objetivo: Investigar o efeito da laserterapia de baixa intensidade (LBI) e do alongamento estático, combinados ou não, em pessoas com osteoartrite de joelho (OAJ). Método: Foram randomizados 145 sujeitos de 50 a 75 anos com OAJ em cinco grupos de intervenção (n=29 cada): Laserativo+Along; Laserplacebo+Along; Along; Laserativo e controle. A laserterapia (GaAs; 904nm; 40mW; 3J/ponto; 27J/joelho) consistiu de nove sessões nos grupos de terapia combinada e 24 quando monoterapia. O alongamento foi composto por sete exercícios repetidos por 24 sessões. O controle recebeu uma cartilha educacional. A frequência de tratamento foi de 3x/sem. A variável primária foi a intensidade da dor medida pela Escala Visual Analógica e as variáveis secundárias incluídas foram domínios dor, função, rigidez e escore total do questionário Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), funcionalidade avaliado pelo Lequesne, mobilidade pelo Timed Up and Go, amplitude de movimento do joelho (ADMJ) pela goniometria e encurtamento de isquiotibiais (IQT) pelo ângulo poplíteo. O nível de significância foi de ?=0,05. Resultados: Nos grupos de terapia combinada, não foi observada diferença entre o laser ativo e placebo (p>0,05). Ao final do estudo, os grupos demonstraram, em média, ganho relativo significativo na dor durante AVDs (50%), WOMAC total (39%), funcionalidade (30%) e mobilidade (20%) em comparação ao controle (p < 0,001). Houve melhora de 43% no encurtamento de IQT e de 9% no ganho de ADMJ nos grupos de terapia combinada em relação ao controle (p < 0,001 e p=0,02, respectivamente). Conclusão: LBI e alongamento estático, quando isolados, foram efetivos na melhora da dor, funcionalidade, mobilidade e nos domínios dor, função e escore total do WOMAC. A LBI nos grupos de terapia combinada não foi superior à aplicação placebo. Portanto, não devemos desconsiderar a contribuição do efeito placebo no resultado do tratamento isolado. A LBI combinada ao alongamento não promoveu benefícios adicionais em relação ao alongamento de forma isolada / Objective: To investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and static stretching, in combination and as monotherapy, in people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: 145 people aged 50-75 years with KOA were randomly allocated to five groups (each n=29): Laseractive+Stretch, Laserplacebo+Stretch, Stretch, Laseractive and control. The laser therapy (GaAs; 904nm; 40mW; 3J/point; 27J/knee) consisted of nine sessions in the combined treatment groups and 24 when used as monotherapy. Stretching consisted of seven exercises repeated for 24 sessions. The control group received an educational booklet. Treatment frequency was 3 times/week. The primary outcome was pain intensity measured by Visual Analogue Scale and the secondary outcomes included pain, function and stiffness\' domains and total score of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), function assessed by Lequesne, mobility by Timed Up and Go, knee range of motion (KROM) by goniometry and hamstring shortening by popliteal angle. Results: In the combined treatment groups, there was no difference between the laser active and placebo (p > 0.05). At the end of the study, the treatment groups demonstrated, on average, a significant relative gain in pain (50%), total WOMAC (39%), function (30%) and mobility (20%) when compared to control (p < .001). For the combined treatment groups there was a 43% improvement in hamstring shortening (p <.001) and 9% improvement in KROM (p=0.02) when compared to control group. Conclusion: LLLT and stretching exercises, as monotherapy, were effective in reducing pain and improving function, mobility and the domains pain and function as well as the total score of WOMAC. The LLLT in the combined groups was not superior to the placebo application. Thus, we should not discard the contribution of the placebo effect in the result of the LLLT as monotherapy. The LLLT combined with stretching did not promote additional benefits compared to stretching alone

INTRODUÇÃO: O fortalecimento do quadríceps em pacientes com osteoartrite (OA) de joelho está associado à redução da dor, independência para caminhar e melhora funcional, salientando o papel dos exercícios físicos no tratamento dessa doença. Portanto, procedimentos capazes de aumentar os efeitos do exercício sobre força e função muscular podem ser potencialmente terapêuticos nesses pacientes. OBJETIVOS: Demonstrar a eficácia da suplementação de creatina associada ao treinamento de força (TF) no tratamento da OA de joelho. MÉTODOS: Mulheres entre 50 e 65 anos de idade com OA de joelho foram suplementadas com CR (20 g/d por 7 dias e depois 5 g/d até o fim do estudo) ou placebo (PL) e submetidas a um programa de TF por 12 semanas. Antes e após esse período, foram realizadas avaliações de capacidade física funcional (desfecho primário), dor, qualidade de vida, força muscular, composição corporal e função renal. RESULTADOS: Houve significante melhora da capacidade física funcional aferida pelo teste de levantar e sentar em 30 segundos (desfecho primário) apenas no grupo CR (P = 0,006). Além disso, foi observado efeito de interação entre grupos (CR PRÉ: 15,7 ± 1,4, CR PÓS: 18,1 ± 1,8; PL PRÉ: 15,0 ± 1,8, PL PÓS: 15,2 ± 1,2; P = 0,004). O grupo CR também apresentou melhora nos domínios de capacidade física funcional (P = 0,005) e de rigidez (P = 0,024) do Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), no índice algofuncional de Lequesne (P = 0,01) e na massa magra de membros inferiores mensurada pela densitometria de dupla emissão com fonte de raios X (P = 0,04). Em ambos os grupos houve redução da dor, tanto pela escala visual numérica quanto pelo domínio de dor do WOMAC (P < 0,05). De forma similar, houve aumento da força muscular pelo teste de 1 repetição máxima (P = 0,005), sem diferença entre grupos (P = 0,81). Não houve alteração na depuração de 51Cr-EDTA (CR PRÉ: 86,16 ± 14,36, PÓS: 87,25 ± 17,60 mL/min/1,73 m2; PL PRÉ: 85,15 ± 8,54, PÓS: 87,18 ± 9.64 mL/min/1,73 m2; P = 0,81), bem como em qualquer outro parâmetro de função renal avaliado (dosagem sérica de creatinina e ureia, depuração estimada de creatinina, dosagem de creatinina, ureia, albumina e proteína na urina de 24 horas e cálculo da razão albumina/creatinina na urina de 24 horas). CONCLUSÃO: A suplementação de CR melhora capacidade física funcional, qualidade de vida e massa magra de membros inferiores em mulheres com OA de joelho submetidas ao treinamento de força sem afetar a função renal / INTRODUCTION: Strengthening of the quadriceps muscle in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) is related to walking self-efficacy, reduced pain, and improved function, stressing the role of strengthening exercises in the treatment of this disease. Therefore, procedures capable of enhancing the exercise effects on muscle strength and function may be potentially therapeutic for knee OA patients. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the efficacy of creatine (CR) supplementation associated with strengthening exercises in knee OA. METHODS: Women aged 50 to 65 years with knee OA were allocated to receive either CR (20 g/d for one week and 5 g/d thereafter) or placebo (PL) and were enrolled in a lower limb resistance training program. They were assessed at baseline (PRE) and after 12 weeks (POST). The primary outcome was the physical function as measured by the timed-stands test. Secondary outcomes included pain, quality of life, muscle strength, body composition and renal function. RESULTS: Physical function was significantly improved only in the CR group (P = 0.006). Additionally, a significant betweengroup difference was observed (CR PRE: 15.7 ± 1.4, POST: 18.1 ± 1.8; PL PRE: 15.0 ± 1.8, POST: 15.2 ± 1.2; P = 0.004). The CR group also presented improvements in the subscales of physical function (P = 0.005) and stiffness (P = 0.024) of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Additionally, only the CR group presented a significant improvement in quality of life assessed by the Lequesne Index (P = 0.01) and in lower limb lean mass measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (P = 0.04). Both CR and PL groups demonstrated significant reductions in pain assessed by the visual numeric scale and by the WOMAC subscale of pain (P < 0.05). Similarly, a main effect for time revealed an increase in muscle strength by the leg press 1 repetition maximum (P = 0.005) with no significant differences between groups (P = 0.81). Renal function measured by 51Cr-EDTA clearance was not different between groups (CR PRE: 86.16 ± 14.36, POST: 87.25 ± 17.60 mL/min/1.73 m2; PL PRE: 85.15 ± 8.54, POST: 87.18 ± 9.64 mL/min/1.73 m2; P = 0.81). Other kidney function parameters (serum creatinine and urea, estimated creatinine clearance and 24h-urinary creatinine, urea, albumine, protein and albumin:creatinine ratio) were also unchanged. CONCLUSION: CR supplementation improves physical function, quality of life, and lower limb lean mass in postmenopausal women with knee OA undergoing strengthening exercises and this supplementation does not affect renal function

A osteoartrite (OA) é a afecção mais frequente do sistema musculoesquelético, o que contribui para incapacidade laboral de aproximadamente 15% da população adulta mundial. O estresse mecânico é uma das principais causas de seu surgimento e progressão da OA, principalmente em articulações expostas à constante sobrecarga e movimentação, como o joelho. Recentes estudos demonstraram, de forma aguda, que o uso de um calçado minimalista proporcionou redução de sobrecarga articular joelhos de idosas com OA. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar o efeito terapêutico de um calçado minimalista de baixo custo (Moleca®) sobre os aspectos clínicos, funcionais e biomecânicos da marcha de idosas com OA de joelho. Foi conduzido um ensaio clínico controlado randomizado, paralelo e com avaliador cego, no qual 56 idosas com OA de joelho graus 2 ou 3 (Kellgren e Lawrence) foram randomizadas e alocadas para grupo intervenção (GI, n = 28) ou para o grupo controle (GC, n = 28). A intervenção foi o uso do calçado Moleca® durante seis meses, por seis horas diárias, sete dias da semana (42 horas semanais). Para ambos os grupos, foi permitido o uso de medicação analgésica de suporte (paracetamol de 500 mg) somente se necessário, com dosagem máxima diária de dois gramas. O desfecho primário foi o domínio de dor do questionário WOMAC e os secundários foram: os domínios de rigidez, função e escore total do WOMAC, o escore do questionário algo-funcional de Lequesne, a distância percorrida no teste de caminhada de seis minutos, os aspectos clínicos (edema e derrame articular), a condição geral de saúde da paciente, o momento de adução do joelho durante a marcha e o consumo de paracetamol de 500 mg. Os efeitos de tempo (início, 3 e 6 meses), de grupo (GI e GC) e de interação (tempo e grupo) foram calculados por meio de ANOVAs casewise 2 fatores. Adotou-se um alfa de 5% para diferenças estatísticas e o coeficiente d de Cohen para descrição do tamanho do efeito da intervenção. Os resultados deste estudo, com seus grandes tamanhos de feito para o GI, demonstraram melhora da dor (tamanho de efeito de 1,41) e da função (tamanho de efeito de 1,22) nos questionários WOMAC e Lequesne. O GC, em menor proporção, também obteve melhora na dor e na função. Contudo, esse grupo, diferentemente do GI, apresentou aumento no consumo de paracetamol ao longo deste ensaio clínico, o que possivelmente tenha proporcionado melhora em sua dor e função. Os aspectos clínicos (edema e derrame articular) e a avaliação global do médico não apresentaram mudanças em nenhum dos grupos. Observou-se diminuição do impulso de adução do joelho no GI ao final de seis meses, embora não significativa. Os resultados deste ensaio clínico nos permite recomendar o uso desse calçado minimalista de baixo custo como mais uma forma de tratamento conservador com o objetivo de minimizar a dor, melhorar os aspectos funcionais, diminuir o consumo de medicação analgésica de suporte e manter constantes as características clínicas e a carga articular nos joelhos de idosas com OA de joelho / Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common disorder of the musculoskeletal system, and contributes to the incapacity for work of about 15% of the adult population worldwide. Mechanical stress is a major cause of the initiation and progression of OA, especially in joints that are in constant overload and motion, such as the knee. Therefore, reduction of intra-articular overload has been one of the main treatments for this disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that the short-term use of a low cost flexible shoe (Moleca®) can minimize the joint overload. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of a low cost, flexible non-heeled shoe on the clinical, functional and gait biomechanical aspects of elderly women with knee OA. A randomized, parallel and controlled clinical trial, with blind assessor was carried out. Fifty-six elderly women with knee OA graded 2 or 3 (Kellgren and Lawrence), assessed at baseline, after three and after six months, were randomly allocated into the intervention group (IG, n = 28) or the control group (CG, n = 28). The use of the Moleca® shoes for six months, for at least six hours a day, seven days a week (42 hours weekly) was adopted as intervention. For both groups, a rescue analgesic medication (acetaminophen) was allowed, only if necessary, in a maximum of 2 grams daily. We adopted the pain subscale of the WOMAC questionnaire as the primary outcome, and the stiffness, function and total score of the same questionnaire, as well as the Lequesne questionnaire score, the distance walked in six minutes, the clinical aspects (edema and joint effusion), the general health condition of the patient, the knee adduction moment and the paracetamol 500 milligrams intake as the secondary outcome. The time effects (baseline, 3 and 6 months) of group (IG and CG) and interaction (time and group) were calculated by two-way casewise ANOVA. We adopted an alfa of 5% for statistical differences and Cohen\'s d coefficient to describe the effect size of the intervention. The results, with large effect sizes for the IG, showed improvement in pain (effect size of 1.41) and function (effect size of 1.22) in WOMAC and Lequesne questionnaires. The CG (to a lesser extent) also showed pain reduction and function improvement. However, this group, unlike the IG, showed higher rescue medication intake throughout the clinical trial, which possibly has provided improvement in its pain and function. No significant difference was observed in clinical aspects, such as edema, joint effusion, or the general health condition of the patient (global assessment of physician and patient). Knee adduction moment impulse reduction was noted in the IG at the end of six months, although not significant. The results of the current study allow us to recommend the use of this low cost minimalist footwear as another conservative mechanical treatment that aims to minimize pain, improve functional aspects, reduce the rescue medication intake, and keep constant the clinical characteristics and knee joint loading in elderly women with knee OA

Cette thèse présente l’apport d’une analyse fractale de la texture de l’os trabéculaire sur des clichés de radiographie du genou pour la caractérisation de la gonarthrose. Dans un premier temps cette analyse de texture a été confrontée aux méthodes actuelles de suivi de la pathologie afin de valider leur intérêt dans le suivi clinique des patients. Un second temps a été consacré à la prédiction de l’initiation de la pathologie où aucun marqueur ne fait référence. L’analyse de texture a été menée en utilisant des approches fractales permettant de s’affranchir des problèmes de variation d’acquisition entre différents centres cliniques tout en comparant différentes méthodes de calcul. La texture osseuse trabéculaire a été analysée à différentes plages d’échelle afin de caractériser les mécanismes sous-jacents de modification de la microarchitecture osseuse induits par la gonarthrose. Nous avons pu mettre en évidence l’intérêt prédictif de cette analyse peu coûteuse et largement accessible dans le cadre aussi bien de l’initiation que de la progression de l’arthrose du genou. / This thesis presents the contribution of the trabecluar bone texture fractal analysis on knee radiographs for the knee osteoarthritis characterization. Firstly, this texture analysis was confronted to the actual methods of the pathology clinical monitoring in order to validate their interest in the patients monitoring. Secondly, the prediction of the knee osteoarthritis initiation was investigated, domain in which there are still no markers defined. The texture analysis was performed using fractal approaches avoiding the problems of the variations in the acquisition among different clinical centers and comparing different computing methods. Trabecular bone texture was analyzed at different ranges of scale in order to characterize the underlying mechanisms of the microarchitecture modification induced by the knee osteoarthritis. Thus, we highligthed the predictive interest of this cheap and largely available analysis for both the initiation and the progression of the knee osteoarthritis.

INTRODUÇÃO: O fortalecimento do quadríceps em pacientes com osteoartrite (OA) de joelho está associado à redução da dor, independência para caminhar e melhora funcional, salientando o papel dos exercícios físicos no tratamento dessa doença. Portanto, procedimentos capazes de aumentar os efeitos do exercício sobre força e função muscular podem ser potencialmente terapêuticos nesses pacientes. OBJETIVOS: Demonstrar a eficácia da suplementação de creatina associada ao treinamento de força (TF) no tratamento da OA de joelho. MÉTODOS: Mulheres entre 50 e 65 anos de idade com OA de joelho foram suplementadas com CR (20 g/d por 7 dias e depois 5 g/d até o fim do estudo) ou placebo (PL) e submetidas a um programa de TF por 12 semanas. Antes e após esse período, foram realizadas avaliações de capacidade física funcional (desfecho primário), dor, qualidade de vida, força muscular, composição corporal e função renal. RESULTADOS: Houve significante melhora da capacidade física funcional aferida pelo teste de levantar e sentar em 30 segundos (desfecho primário) apenas no grupo CR (P = 0,006). Além disso, foi observado efeito de interação entre grupos (CR PRÉ: 15,7 ± 1,4, CR PÓS: 18,1 ± 1,8; PL PRÉ: 15,0 ± 1,8, PL PÓS: 15,2 ± 1,2; P = 0,004). O grupo CR também apresentou melhora nos domínios de capacidade física funcional (P = 0,005) e de rigidez (P = 0,024) do Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), no índice algofuncional de Lequesne (P = 0,01) e na massa magra de membros inferiores mensurada pela densitometria de dupla emissão com fonte de raios X (P = 0,04). Em ambos os grupos houve redução da dor, tanto pela escala visual numérica quanto pelo domínio de dor do WOMAC (P < 0,05). De forma similar, houve aumento da força muscular pelo teste de 1 repetição máxima (P = 0,005), sem diferença entre grupos (P = 0,81). Não houve alteração na depuração de 51Cr-EDTA (CR PRÉ: 86,16 ± 14,36, PÓS: 87,25 ± 17,60 mL/min/1,73 m2; PL PRÉ: 85,15 ± 8,54, PÓS: 87,18 ± 9.64 mL/min/1,73 m2; P = 0,81), bem como em qualquer outro parâmetro de função renal avaliado (dosagem sérica de creatinina e ureia, depuração estimada de creatinina, dosagem de creatinina, ureia, albumina e proteína na urina de 24 horas e cálculo da razão albumina/creatinina na urina de 24 horas). CONCLUSÃO: A suplementação de CR melhora capacidade física funcional, qualidade de vida e massa magra de membros inferiores em mulheres com OA de joelho submetidas ao treinamento de força sem afetar a função renal / INTRODUCTION: Strengthening of the quadriceps muscle in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) is related to walking self-efficacy, reduced pain, and improved function, stressing the role of strengthening exercises in the treatment of this disease. Therefore, procedures capable of enhancing the exercise effects on muscle strength and function may be potentially therapeutic for knee OA patients. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the efficacy of creatine (CR) supplementation associated with strengthening exercises in knee OA. METHODS: Women aged 50 to 65 years with knee OA were allocated to receive either CR (20 g/d for one week and 5 g/d thereafter) or placebo (PL) and were enrolled in a lower limb resistance training program. They were assessed at baseline (PRE) and after 12 weeks (POST). The primary outcome was the physical function as measured by the timed-stands test. Secondary outcomes included pain, quality of life, muscle strength, body composition and renal function. RESULTS: Physical function was significantly improved only in the CR group (P = 0.006). Additionally, a significant betweengroup difference was observed (CR PRE: 15.7 ± 1.4, POST: 18.1 ± 1.8; PL PRE: 15.0 ± 1.8, POST: 15.2 ± 1.2; P = 0.004). The CR group also presented improvements in the subscales of physical function (P = 0.005) and stiffness (P = 0.024) of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Additionally, only the CR group presented a significant improvement in quality of life assessed by the Lequesne Index (P = 0.01) and in lower limb lean mass measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (P = 0.04). Both CR and PL groups demonstrated significant reductions in pain assessed by the visual numeric scale and by the WOMAC subscale of pain (P < 0.05). Similarly, a main effect for time revealed an increase in muscle strength by the leg press 1 repetition maximum (P = 0.005) with no significant differences between groups (P = 0.81). Renal function measured by 51Cr-EDTA clearance was not different between groups (CR PRE: 86.16 ± 14.36, POST: 87.25 ± 17.60 mL/min/1.73 m2; PL PRE: 85.15 ± 8.54, POST: 87.18 ± 9.64 mL/min/1.73 m2; P = 0.81). Other kidney function parameters (serum creatinine and urea, estimated creatinine clearance and 24h-urinary creatinine, urea, albumine, protein and albumin:creatinine ratio) were also unchanged. CONCLUSION: CR supplementation improves physical function, quality of life, and lower limb lean mass in postmenopausal women with knee OA undergoing strengthening exercises and this supplementation does not affect renal function

No description available.

Sammanfattning   Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med denna studie var att sammanställa kvalitet på och resultat av studier som undersökt om långdistanslöpning ger artros i höft-, knä- eller fotleder. Finns det vetenskaplig evidens för att långdistanslöpning ger artros i höft-, knä- eller fotleder? Vilka styrkor och svagheter har de studier som försökt utröna om samband finns mellan långdistanslöpning och artros i höft-, knä- eller fotleder?   Metod Sökning av litteratur utfördes i PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library och PEDro. Detta resulterade i att tio artiklar inkluderades för närmare granskning och sammanställning. Utifrån artiklarnas sammantagna bevisvärde poängsattes och graderades artiklarna efter evidensnivå enligt Statens Beredning för medicinsk Utvärderings (SBU) granskningsmallar för kohortstudier med kontrollgrupper.   Resultat Endast en av tio studier visar ett positivt samband mellan långdistanslöpning och artros i höft-, knä- eller fotleder, i detta fall höftledsartros. Studierna har ingen tydlig och gemensam definition över vad långdistanslöpning är. De granskade studierna använder sig av olika mätmetoder för att bedöma leddegenerationen, både av självrapportering och av olika diagnostiska kriterier för artros. Alla studier har inslag av selektionsbias.   Slutsats En indikation på att det inte finns ett vetenskapligt stöd för att långdistanslöpning ger höft-, knä- eller fotledsartros hos människor. Studierna har brister i hantering av confounders och selektionsbias och bedöms vara av låg eller medelhög kvalitet. / Abstract   Aim The purpose of this study was to compile the quality and results of studies that examined if long-distance running gives osteoarthritis of the hip, knee or ankle joints. Is there scientific evidence that long-distance running gives osteoarthritis of the hip, knee or ankle? What strengths and weaknesses of the studies attempted to determine if the link between long-distance running and osteoarthritis of the hip, knee or ankle joints.   Method Search of the literature was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PEDro. This resulted in ten articles that were included for further review and compilation. Based on the articles combined probative value was scored and graded articles for level of evidence according to the National Council on Technology Evaluation (SBU) examination templates for cohort studies with control groups.   Results Only one of the ten studies showed a positive association between long distance running and osteoarthritis of the hip, knee or ankle joints, in this case hip joint. The studies have not a clear and common definition of what long-distance running is. The studies reviewed use different metrics to assess joint degeneration, both by self-report and of different diagnostic criteria for osteoarthritis. All studies have an element of selection bias.   Conclusion An indication that there is no scientific evidence that long-distance running gives hip, knee or ankle osteoarthritis in humans. The studies were inadequate handling of confounders and selection bias and judged to be of low or medium quality.

[Truncated abstract] Knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients have high levels of pain, functional and strength deficits of the quadriceps, decreased proprioceptive acuity, and increased co-contraction and knee joint loading in gait, compared to age matched controls. The increased knee joint loading in this population occurs most commonly in the medial tibio-femoral compartment, due to increased external adduction moments, and with increasing disease severity there is a concomitant increase in the knee adduction moments. A key finding within the knee OA literature is that dynamic loading in gait, due to increased external adduction moments, strongly predicts pain and radiographic disease progression. Current research has shown that exercise interventions reduce pain and time to complete functional activities; however, the effect of these interventions on knee joint loading and muscular activation in gait is still unclear. In addition, the need for specific knee joint strengthening to cause these alterations has not been investigated and it remains unknown if improvements occur due to specific muscle strengthening or due to some general effect of exercise. Therefore, the primary aim of this research study was to examine the effects of general (upper body) and specific (lower body) resistance training interventions on self-perceived outcomes, neuromuscular function and kinematic, kinetic and muscle activation during gait of OA patients compared with asymptomatic controls. ... The examination of gait data following exercise (Study 4) showed trends for changes in the muscle co-contraction ratios. Specifically, the medial/lateral co-contraction ratio (MLCCR) displayed a trend in early stance where the upper body exercise group increased their lateral muscle activity and the lower body group reduced their lateral muscle activity, and the medial/lateral hamstring co-contraction ratio (HAMCCR) displayed this same trend during loading. The trend toward reduced lateral muscle activation, following lower body resistance training, suggests that specific muscle strengthening may have the ability to alter the load distribution. The kinematic and kinetic variables of gait were unchanged by the exercise interventions, highlighting the sensitivity of muscle activation pattern changes due to muscle strengthening. This thesis provides new insights into the co-contraction strategies utilised by knee OA patients. The directed co-contraction strategy employed by knee OA patients and its relationship to the external adduction moment in gait suggest an attempt to redistribute the loading within the knee joint, most likely in response to pain. Further, we have separated the effects of exercise and found differences in self-perceived outcomes based on exercise specificity. This first examination into muscle co-contraction following resistance training of knee OA patients has highlighted the possibility of alterations to the co-contraction patterns following lower body exercise. However, the implications of altering this muscle activation strategy and the consequent effect on distribution of load within the knee joint requires further consideration.