Mechanical temporal summation is associated with greater muscle co-contraction during walking in knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Purpose: People with knee osteoarthritis (OA) walk with altered motor patterns, including excessive muscular co-contraction, that can lead to disease worsening. Factors related to increased muscular co-contraction during walking in people with knee OA are not well known, but one is suggested to be pain sensitization. An abnormally augmented pain response to repetitive mechanical stimuli can be present in people with chronic pain. Mechanical loading during activities like walking could activate peripheral and central nociceptive pathways ; if the central nervous system is sensitized, it is possible that could then affect motor function leading to altered muscle activity.