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Increase in vastus medialis cross-sectional area is associated with reduced pain, cartilage loss, and joint replacement risk in knee osteoarthritis

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 15:11 authored by Wang, Y, Wluka, AE, Berry, PA, Siew, T, Teichtahl, AJ, Urquhart, DM, Lloyd, DG, Graeme JonesGraeme Jones, Cicuttini, FM

Objective: Although there is evidence for a beneficial effect of increased quadriceps strength on knee symptoms, the effect on knee structure is unclear. We undertook this study to examine the relationship between change in vastus medialis cross-sectional area (CSA) and knee pain, tibial cartilage volume, and risk of knee replacement in subjects with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: One hundred seventeen subjects with symptomatic knee OA underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the knee at baseline and at 2 and 4.5 years. Vastus medialis CSA was measured at baseline and at 2 years. Tibial cartilage volume was measured at baseline and at 2 and 4.5 years. Knee pain was assessed by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index at baseline and at 2 years. The frequency of knee joint replacement over 4 years was determined. Regression coefficients (B) and odds ratios were determined along with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Results: After adjusting for confounders, baseline vastus medialis CSA was inversely associated with current knee pain (r = −0.16, P = 0.04) and with medial tibial cartilage volume loss from baseline to 2 years (B coefficient −10.9 [95% CI −19.5, −2.3]), but not with baseline tibial cartilage volume. In addition, an increase in vastus medialis CSA from baseline to 2 years was associated with reduced knee pain over the same time period (r = 0.24, P = 0.007), reduced medial tibial cartilage loss from 2 to 4.5 years (B coefficient −16.8 [95% CI −28.9, −4.6]), and reduced risk of knee replacement over 4 years (odds ratio 0.61 [95% CI 0.40, 0.94]).

Conclusion: In a population of patients with symptomatic knee OA, increased vastus medialis size was associated with reduced knee pain and beneficial structural changes at the knee, suggesting that management of knee pain and optimizing vastus medialis size are important in reducing OA progression and subsequent knee replacement.

History

Publication title

Arthritis and Rheumatism

Volume

64

Issue

12

Pagination

3917-3925

ISSN

0004-3591

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Wiley-Liss

Place of publication

Div John Wiley & Sons Inc, 605 Third Ave, New York, USA, Ny, 10158-0012

Rights statement

Copyright 2012 American College of Rheumatology

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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