Zusammenfassung

Background and Purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) leads to destruction of cartilage and mal-alignment of structures in the knee joint leading to anatomic alterations of the joint. It has been identified that mal-alignment in the lower extremity is a potential factor that increases the risk of acute injury and osteoarthritis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among selected lower extremity alignment variables in individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee. Methods: A total of 40 individuals (mean ± SD age of 56.35 ± 9.70) with knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) were recruited in this cross sectional observational study. Six anatomical alignment characteristics (Quadriceps angle, Tibiofemoral angle, Tibial Torsion, Femoral anteversion, Genu recurvatum, Navicular drop) were measured on the left and right lower extremities of each participant. Results: There was no significant relationship (P>0.05) among the lower extremity alignment variables in subjects with unilateral symptomatic KOA. There was a significant relationship between Femoral anteversion and Genu recurvatum (r= -0.443, p= 0.039) and between Tibiofemoral angle and Tibial torsion angle (r= -0.445, p= 0.038) respectively in the left and right limbs of participants with symptomatic bilateral KOA. There was also a significance gender difference for Femoral anteversion (t= -2.803, p= 0.016) and Navicular drop (t= 2.335, p= 0.038) in participants with unilateral symptomatic right KOA and significance in gender difference for Quadriceps angle (t= -2.148, p= 0.044) in the right limb of participants with bilateral symptomatic KOA. Discussion: Mal-alignment of the lower extremity exists in individuals with unilateral and bilateral symptomatic KOA. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on not only correcting mal-alignments at the knee but also correcting mal-alignment at other segments of the lower extremity so as to further prevent disease progression in the affected and unaffected limb.