Balancing strategy differences in bilateral knee osteoarthritis patients

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most widespread orthopedic disease that affects the elderly. The present study aims to evaluate the biomechanical effects of bilateral osteoarthritis on elderly patients compared to a control group using stabilometry parameters. The used parameters were center of pressure (CoP) 95% confidence ellipse area, CoP path length and maximum path velocity, CoP range ratio and spectral power ratio in anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions, load distribution between legs, largest amplitudes in AP and ML direction during a 30s bilateral quite standing trial on a Zebris FDM-S force distribution plate. Significant differences to the control group in path length, ML largest amplitude and spectral power ratio showed that bilaterally involved OA degrades postural stability as reported earlier, but new finding is that more intense CoP motions can be observed in ML direction in case of bilateral knee osteoarthritis.