Individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA) exhibit significantly higher levels of whole-body angular momentum during stair negotiation compared to those without the condition, highlighting an increased risk of falls associated with impaired dynamic balance. Research from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University provides insights on the biomechanical challenges faced by individuals with knee OA during stair ascent and descent, emphasizing the differences observed when analyzing patterns of movement and concurrency between groups.
The study recruited 15 participants, divided between 7 individuals diagnosed with symptomatic knee OA and 8 asymptomatic controls. All participants undertook stair climbing on an instrumented staircase, allowing the researchers to collect precise kinematic and kinetic data. This information was utilized to compute the range of whole-body angular momentum ("H") across various planes—sagittal, frontal, and transverse—dominantly utilized as a surrogate measure for dynamic balance.
Significant variances emerged during both stair ascent and descent, with the knee OA group recording greater angular momentum particularly noted during ascents (p = 0.005, Cohen’s d = 1.7) and descents (p = 0.020, Cohen’s d = 1.3) along the sagittal plane. Observations indicated altered hip flexion and reduced knee flexion moments among those with knee OA, with differences also noted during transverse plane measurements of descent.
"Individuals with knee OA exhibited a larger range of whole-body angular momentum during stair negotiation compared to asymptomatic controls," stated the authors of the article, underlining how these movements may spotlight risks associated with the condition. Follow-up analysis on stair-decent behavior showcased reduced foot progression angles among participants with knee OA, linking this to patterns intended to alleviate medial knee loading.
The consequences of these findings are not simply academic; they have practical applications for improving safety methods for individuals with OA, especially as falls attributable to stair navigation can lead to significant injuries. Falls from stairs account for about 10% of fatal accidents.
Further, the study's results align with previous research, confirming higher fall risks during stair descent than ascent for individuals with knee OA. Equally noteworthy is the exploration of how real-time biofeedback administered during stair climbing may assist in rehabilitating gait patterns to mitigate risks. The authors posited, "This study may provide biomechanical evidence explaining why individuals with knee OA possess greater fall risk than asymptomatic counterparts, making it pivotal for future research to utilize this data to formulate effective gait retraining programs for fall prevention. The intent is to balance loads and movements to improve safety for this fast-growing patient cohort." The study’s findings prompt the need for broader methodologies and investigations to examine continuous angular momentum and fall propensity among the knee OA population.
The holistic examination of how individuals with knee osteoarthritis manage dynamic balance during stair negotiation presents valuable insight for medical professionals, caregivers, and rehabilitation specialists. Consequently, maximizing functional mobility and reducing fall risks can significantly improve quality of life for those affected by knee osteoarthritis.
