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2000
Volume 18, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 1874-6098
  • E-ISSN: 1874-6128
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Abstract

Introduction

Stair navigation is physically demanding for individuals with knee osteoarthritis and may result in movement asymmetries that can be quantified using kinetic analysis and force-time parameters. Thus, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine if kinetic force-time parameter asymmetries are present in individuals with knee osteoarthritis and associated with functional outcomes.

Methods

Forty-six older male veterans (61.6 ± 5.6 years) participated. More and less involved legs were defined using the Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) scale and self-reported pain. Kinetics were measured with the Neurocom® Step Up and Over test and quantified with the lift-up index, impact index, movement time, and stair-stepping smoothness. Smoothness was calculated from the level of intermittency in acceleration and deceleration during the concentric and eccentric test movements.

Results

Smoothness was the only force-time parameter to demonstrate an asymmetry. Greater smoothness values were observed for the less-involved leg (<0.001, 95% CI: 1.22 to 3.64, =1.17) and were positively associated with gait speed (more-involved: =0.47, <0.01; less-involved: =0.53, <0.01), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Symptom (more-involved: =0.31, <0.05; less-involved: =0.39, <0.01) and activities of daily living (more-involved: =0.32, <0.05; less-involved: =0.39, <0.05) subscales, and isokinetic knee extension strength (more-involved: =0.31, <0.05; less-involved: =0.42, <0.01).

Conclusion

Stair-stepping smoothness was diminished in the more involved leg and was associated with worse gait speed, patient-reported outcomes, and knee strength. This observation may reflect compromised motor control associated with decreased strength and greater disease severity in the more-involved leg.

© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers.
This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
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The Clinical Assessment of Eccentric and Concentric Stepping Kinetics has Utility in Older African American Men with Knee Arthritis
Curr Aging Sci 18, 244 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0118746098312415241112103614
/content/journals/cas/10.2174/0118746098312415241112103614
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): concentric muscle actions; coordination; eccentric muscle actions; gait; kinetics; knee; Osteoarthritis; stair navigation

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