Kinematics of the anterior interval in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
Hayato Kawaji, Noriyuki Eguchi, Kazuya Saizaki
PMID 39239408WHAT IT FOUND
In knee osteoarthritis, the anterior knee space angle changed less with knee motion than in healthy young controls, but age and body mass index may explain the difference.
Key findings
01The knee osteoarthritis group had a significantly smaller change in the patellar tendon-tibial angle from 30° to 15° knee flexion than the healthy group in the unadjusted comparison.
02After adjusting for age and body mass index, there was no significant between-group difference in the patellar tendon-tibial angle at 30° knee flexion or in the amount of change.
03The healthy group had a significant increase in the patellar tendon-tibial angle from 30° to 15° knee flexion, while the knee osteoarthritis group did not show a significant change.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The groups were small: 11 knees with osteoarthritis and 13 healthy knees, so the findings are not stable. The healthy controls were much younger and leaner than the osteoarthritis group, and after age and body mass index were adjusted, the main group differences were not significant. The researchers who measured and analysed the ultrasound were not blinded. Measurements were taken while participants lay down, so they may not apply to standing or walking. The study did not compare different osteoarthritis grades, so it cannot say how severity affects anterior interval movement. The study describes differences between groups; it cannot show that osteoarthritis caused the movement difference.
Declared interests
The study received no funding, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that knee osteoarthritis alone causes reduced anterior knee space movement. The healthy controls were younger and leaner, and after adjusting for age and body mass index the between-group differences were not significant.