Vibroarthrography in patients with knee arthropathy

Abstract

Osteo-arthropathy (OA) is one of the most common diseases of the knee joint, but functional information is limited on imaging analyses. We aimed to clarify the functional pathology based on vibroarthrography (VAG) signals at the knee joint during standing-up and sitting-down movements in patients with OA of the knee joints. VAG signals and angular changes of the knee joint during standing-up and sitting-down movements were recorded in 145 knees, including 46 knees with OA in 27 patients, 49 knees in 26 age-matched healthy senior subjects, and 50 knees in 25 healthy young subjects. The level of VAG signals was greater in the knees with OA at 50-99 and 100-149 Hz compared to the age-matched control knees during movements. We considered that the increase in VAG signals in these ranges of frequency suggested the pathological change of OA during weight-loaded movements. This method of VAG recording is fully noninvasive, and can be used by therapists during interventions to obtain physical information regarding functional pathological changes of the knee joint.