Proprioceptive Acuity Research Articles

Throwing performance in water polo is related to in-water shoulder proprioception

Water polo players require a high level of upper-extremity strength, flexibility and coordination to achieve a peak level of throwing performance. Increased levels of shoulder proprioceptive acuity...

Combined Ankle/Knee Stretching and Pivoting Stepping Training for Children With Cerebral Palsy.

After the SS-POINT program, subjects with CP showed reduced knee stiffness and intoeing angle, and improvements in both joint and leg functions in terms of ankle and knee active range of motion, ankle dorsiflexor strength, proprioception, walking speed, balance, and minimum pivoting angle. Furthermore, improvements in proprioceptive acuity and minimum pivoting angle after the SS-POINT were greater than those after the POINT. The SS-POINT approach can be used as a subject-specific training program for improving leg and walking functions and reducing intoeing during gait. This approach can serve as an individualized intervention at the joint and walking levels to maximize intervention effects by adjusting training targets, sequences, and intensities to meet the individual needs of children with CP.

Throwing performance in water polo is related to in-water shoulder proprioception

ABSTRACTWater polo players require a high level of upper-extremity strength, flexibility and coordination to achieve a peak level of throwing performance. Increased levels of shoulder proprioceptive acuity, strength and range of motion (ROM) have been previously associated with higher sporting performance. A coach-rating scale, used to quantify an athlete’s kicking proficiency in soccer; was adapted in the current study to measure each coach’s subjective expert opinion regarding athletes’ throwing mechanics, velocity, and accuracy. To examine this hypothesis shoulder proprioception acuity of 18 water polo players was measured both in-water and on-land using an AMEDA apparatus and correlated with coach-rated throwing performance and clinical measures of shoulder strength and ROM. There was a moderate positive correlation between the in-water and the on-land proprioception acuity (r = 0.47, p < 0.05). The in-water score showing a strong positive correlation with coach rated throwing mechanics (r = 0.68, p < 0.05) and velocity (r = 0.75, p = 0.02), suggesting that superior proprioception acuity contributed to fast, mechanically-efficient throwing. These findings support the notion that in-water proprioceptive acuity is an important determinant of the throwing performance achieved by water polo athletes and its measurement may be a valuable adjunct to current athlete screening.

Abstract 3119: Novel measures of somatosensory impairment in chemotherapy-exposed pediatric cancer patients

Abstract Introduction: The magnitude and timeline of somatosensory impairments due to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy are not well understood due to a lack of objective measures with appropriate resolution. Here, we have updated a methodology for measuring proprioceptive acuity and developed a novel measure of haptic function, appropriate for adult and pediatric populations, to measure somatosensory impairment in chemotherapy-exposed pediatric cancer patients and identified relationships between chemotherapy-related somatosensory impairment and cumulative chemotherapy exposure. Methods: To map the development of proprioceptive acuity, 308 typically developing (TD) children (ages 5-17 years) and 26 adults (ages 18-25 years) performed a forearm position matching task with a bimanual manipulandum. Haptic acuity (discrimination) or sensitivity (detection) thresholds were measured using curvature perception assessments in 99 and 56 children respectively (ages 6-17 years). Healthy adults completed both haptic assessments (n = 27, ages 19-25 years). These brief proprioceptive and haptic assessments were utilized to characterize somatosensory impairment in 15 individuals treated with vinca alkaloid-containing chemotherapy regimens for non-central nervous system (CNS) pediatric cancers (ages 6-25 years). Normative quantiles were calculated for the proprioceptive and haptic measures from children and adults in the control group to use as comparison for the individuals exposed to chemotherapy. Regression analysis were used to determine if the somatosensory measures were correlated with treatment variables such as cumulative dosage of chemotherapeutic agents. Results: 7 of 15 cancer survivors exhibited elevated proprioceptive precision measures and 11 of 15 exhibited at least one elevated haptic function measure. Elevated measures are above the 75th percentile of the age matched normative cohort indicating more variability in limb position sense and higher haptic discrimination and detection thresholds. A multiple linear regression model of cumulative dosage of chemotherapeutic agent types predicted 80% of the variability in the haptic discrimination thresholds (adjusted r-squared = 0.80). Greater doses of plant alkaloids and anti-tumor antibiotics were associated with higher haptic discrimination thresholds. Conclusion: This study demonstrated proof-of-concept for identifying somatosensory deficits in individuals treated with chemotherapy for non-CNS pediatric cancers. The haptic assessment has sufficient resolution to correlate with cumulative chemotherapy exposure. These brief, objective, clinically relevant, somatosensory assessments can identify somatosensory deficits in pediatric cancer patients with known or suspected chemotherapy-associated dysfunction and may be used to follow progression and resolution of symptoms over time. Citation Format: Jessica M. Holst-Wolf, Juergen Konczak, Lucie Turcotte. Novel measures of somatosensory impairment in chemotherapy-exposed pediatric cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3119.

Age-related changes in proprioception of the ankle complex across the lifespan

BackgroundAnkle complex proprioceptive ability, needed in active human movement, may change from childhood to elderly adulthood; however, its development across all life stages has remained unexamined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the across-the-lifespan trend for proprioceptive ability of the ankle complex during active ankle inversion movement. MethodsThe right ankles of 118 healthy right-handed participants in 6 groups were assessed: children (6–8 years old), adolescents (13–15 years old), young adults (18–25 years old), middle-aged adults (35–50 years old), old adults (60–74 years old), and very old adults (75–90 years old). While the participants were standing, their ankle complex proprioception was measured using the Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus. ResultsThere was no significant interaction between the effects of age group and gender on ankle proprioceptive acuity (F (5, 106) = 0.593, p = 0.705, η2p = 0.027). Simple main effects analysis showed that there was a significant main effect for age group (F (5, 106) = 22.521, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.515) but no significant main effect for gender (F (1,106) = 2.283, p = 0.134, η2p = 0.021) between the female (0.723 ± 0.092, mean ± SD) and the male (0.712 ± 0.083) participants. The age-group factor was associated with a significant linear downward trend in scores (F (1, 106) = 10.584, p = 0.002, η2p = 0.091) and a strong quadratic trend component (F (1,106) = 100.701, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.480), producing an asymmetric inverted-U function. ConclusionThe test method of the Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus is sensitive to age differences in ankle complex proprioception. For proprioception of the ankle complex, young adults had significantly better scores than children, adolescents, old adults, and very old adults. The middle-aged group had levels of ankle proprioceptive acuity similar to those of the young adults. The scores for males and females were not significantly different. Examination of the range of the scores in each age group highlights the possible level that ankle complex movement proprioceptive rehabilitation can reach, especially for those 75–90 years of age.

Effect of Different Knee Angles on Active Joint Position Sense in Patients with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

AbstractBackground: Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a common, painful musculoskeletal condition that affects physically active young adults and adolescents. During assessment of joint position sense, the different positions of the knee may affect the internal structures of the knee differently. Therefore, examining the differences in the two positions between both males and females may shed light on the effect of muscle activation.Aim of Study: To examine the differences between 20 and 60 angles of knee extension on knee joint position sense as well as to examine the differences in knee joint position sense between males and females in patient with patellofemoral pain syndrome.Material and Methods: Thirty nine participants (11 men, 28 women) participated in this study. With a mean age of 18 to 35 years with mean age (24.25±3.40) years, mean weight (68.71±16.01) Kg, and mean height (164.07±10. 14) cm. All subjects were assessed by the same examiner via the Isokinetic Dynamometer Device (IKD) at angles 20o and 60o with angular velocity 2o/sec to determine which angle has more angular error.Results: The results revealed that the 20 angle position had a significantly greater absolute reposition error than the 60 angle position (p=0.039). There was no significant differ-ence in joint position sense between males and females at angle 20 (p=0.829), and angle 60 (p=0.833).Conclusion: The results indicate that there is a significant difference in knee joint position sense between position of 20 degrees of extension and 60 degrees of extension. Specif-ically, as the knee becomes more extended proprioceptive acuity was heightened. Therefore, future research is still needed to discern exactly whether the heightened propriocep-tive acuity comes from the differences in gravitational torque or the differences in the anatomical structures of the knee between the two positions.

Movement related activity in the μ band of the human EEG during a robot-based proprioceptive task.

Innovative research in the fields of prosthetic, neurorehabilitation, motor control and human physiology has been focusing on the study of proprioception, the sense through which we perceive the position and movement of our body, and great achievements have been obtained regarding its assessment and characterization. However, how proprioceptive signals are combined with other sensory modalities and processed by the central nervous system to form a conscious body image, is still unknown. Such a crucial question was addressed in this study, which involved 23 healthy subjects, by combining a robot-based proprioceptive test with a specific analysis of electroencephalographic activity (EEG) in the $\mu$ frequency band (8-12 Hz). We observed important activation in the motor area contralateral to the moving hand, and besides, a substantial bias in brain activation and proprioceptive acuity when visual feedback was provided in addition to the proprioceptive information during movement execution. In details, brain activation and proprioceptive acuity were both higher in case of movements performed with visual feedback. Remarkably, we also found a correlation between the level of activation in the brain motor area contralateral to the moving hand and the value of proprioceptive acuity.

Central fatigue mechanisms are responsible for decreases in hand proprioceptive acuity following shoulder muscle fatigue

Muscle fatigue is a complex phenomenon, consisting of central and peripheral mechanisms which contribute to local and systemic changes in motor performance. In particular, it has been demonstrated that afferent processing in the fatigued muscle (e.g., shoulder), as well as in surrounding or distal muscles (e.g., hand) can be altered by fatigue. Currently, it is unclear how proximal muscle fatigue affects proprioceptive acuity of the distal limb. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of shoulder muscle fatigue on participants’ ability to judge the location of their hand using only proprioceptive cues. Participants’ (N = 16) limbs were moved outwards by a robot manipulandum and they were instructed to estimate the position of their hand relative to one of four visual reference targets (two near, two far). This estimation task was completed before and after a repetitive pointing task was performed to fatigue the shoulder muscles. To assess central versus peripheral effects of fatigue on the distal limb, the right shoulder was fatigued and proprioceptive acuity of the left and right hands were tested. Results showed that there was a significant decrease in the accuracy of proprioceptive estimates for both hands after the right shoulder was fatigued, with no change in the precision of proprioceptive estimates. A control experiment (N = 8), in which participants completed the proprioceptive estimation task before and after a period of quiet sitting, ruled out the possibility that the bilateral changes in proprioceptive accuracy were due to a practice effect. Together, these results indicate that shoulder muscle fatigue decreases proprioceptive acuity in both hands, suggesting that central fatigue mechanisms are primarily responsible for changes in afferent feedback processing of the distal upper limb.

A quantification of lower-limb coordinative variability during running with different levels of midsole cushioning

Cushioned material between the foot and the ground during the stance phase of running dampens haptic feedback information used by higher control centres to inform subsequent movement executions. The purpose of this investigation was to examine whether this constraint on the motor system would manifest in reduced coordinative variability in lower-limb joint couplings and a more ‘rigid’ gait pattern, implying increased consistency of tissue stress during time periods of limb loading. Ten midfoot and 10 rearfoot experienced distance runners, all of whom were habitual in their categorized footstrike pattern and free of any pain or injury, ran on a treadmill while barefoot and in shoes with minimalist (New Balance Minimus) and maximalist (Hoka Stinson One One) amounts of midsole cushioning. No differences in leg segment coordinative variability were observed between footwear conditions in either group of runners. Peaks in variability were often observed around periods of gait transition, primarily in foot-shank couplings. Further, a novel observation was the altered spatiotemporal properties of the segments’ phase plots between footwear conditions, manifesting in altered joint coupling patterns. The effect of increased midsole cushioning material on proprioceptive acuity during stance was not a sufficient disturbance to the motor system to manifest in altered levels of coordinative variability. Healthy, experienced runners likely display learned coordination patterns containing ‘normal’ levels of variability. Preliminary observations of altered joint coupling patterns between footwear conditions may have significant implications for healthy mechanical function. Prospective investigations should be employed to assess for any association between injury risk and individual-specific levels of coordinative variability.

Wrist joint proprioceptive acuity assessment using inertial and magnetic measurement systems

Human wrist proprioception is particularly important due to its role in manual dexterity and associated tasks of daily living. Most studies have focused on testing single degree of freedom joints o...

Patients with Subacromial Pain Syndrome Present no Reduction of Shoulder Proprioception: A Matched Case-Control Study.

Shoulder pain is common among patients with musculoskeletal pain and the prevalence of patients with subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) is high. Despite the high prevalence, there is a lack of an extensive evaluation of the proprioception acuity in patients with SAPS. Knowledge of the proprioceptive deficit would assist clinicians in the proper treatment and may offer an alternative explanation for the mechanisms underlying SAPS, which are poorly understood. To compare the proprioceptive function of the shoulder in patients with SAPS and matched controls. Matched case-control study. Physical Functional Rehabilitation Service of an outpatient clinic. A total of 32 consecutive patients with SAPS who sought physical therapy for shoulder pain and 32 healthy participants (control group) matched for age, sex, and handedness. All participants completed a questionnaire containing sociodemographic information, pain intensity and characteristics, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. The proprioceptive assessment was performed through kinesthesia, passive joint position sense (PJPS), and the active joint position sense (AJPS). The groups showed no statistically significant differences in kinesthesia, PJPS, and AJPS for internal or external rotation. The proprioceptive acuity was not associated with pain intensity or functional disability in patients with SAPS. Participants with SAPS did not present proprioceptive deficits in a pain-free motion of medial and lateral rotation when compared to their matched controls. The proprioceptive deficit may not be involved with the mechanisms underlying SAPS and seems not to interfere with the clinical outcomes of patients with SAPS. Level III.

A closed-loop hand prosthesis with simultaneous intraneural tactile and position feedback.

Current myoelectric prostheses allow transradial amputees to regain voluntary motor control of their artificial limb by exploiting residual muscle function in the forearm. However, the overreliance on visual cues resulting from a lack of sensory feedback is a common complaint. Recently, several groups have provided tactile feedback in upper limb amputees using implanted electrodes, surface nerve stimulation, or sensory substitution. These approaches have led to improved function and prosthesis embodiment. Nevertheless, the provided information remains limited to a subset of the rich sensory cues available to healthy individuals. More specifically, proprioception, the sense of limb position and movement, is predominantly absent from current systems. Here, we show that sensory substitution based on intraneural stimulation can deliver position feedback in real time and in conjunction with somatotopic tactile feedback. This approach allowed two transradial amputees to regain high and close-to-natural remapped proprioceptive acuity, with a median joint angle reproduction precision of 9.1° and a median threshold to detection of passive movements of 9.5°, which was comparable with results obtained in healthy participants. The simultaneous delivery of position information and somatotopic tactile feedback allowed both amputees to discriminate the size and compliance of four objects with high levels of performance (75.5%). These results demonstrate that tactile information delivered via somatotopic neural stimulation and position information delivered via sensory substitution can be exploited simultaneously and efficiently by transradial amputees. This study paves a way to more sophisticated bidirectional bionic limbs conveying richer, multimodal sensations.

Comparison of proprioceptive acuity of the cervical spine in healthy adults and adults with chronic non-specific low back pain: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundIt has been suggested that patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) perform poorly in postural tasks when compared to healthy individuals. Despite its importance in posture and alignment of the trunk in relation to the head, neck proprioception has not been examined in patients with low back pain. The purpose of this study was to compare neck proprioception in patients with CNSLBP with healthy individuals.MethodsCervical joint reposition error was measured five times consecutively in the neutral head position, 30° and 60° left and right head rotation. The main outcome measure was the mean cervical joint repositioning error of the head.ResultsForty-six participants with (n = 24, 54 ± 16yrs SD, 14 females) and without (n = 22, 36 ± 13yrs SD, 13 females) CNSLBP were included in the study. Comparison of mean cervical joint repositioning error between patients and healthy controls showed no statistically significant group difference in any of the applied positions. The range of deviation in CNSLBP patients was between 1.57° and 3.27° compared to 1.46° to 2.26° in healthy controls. An overshooting tendency for both groups was found in the neutral head position.ConclusionThe ability to accurately position the head does not seem to be impaired in patients with CNSLBP. This may suggest that sensorimotor control is affected on other levels of the movement system and future research should focus on methods to identify the source of these aberrations.

Effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation versus cervical proprioception training on pain, pressure pain sensitivity, and joint position sense in patients with chronic neck pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background and objectives: Neck pain is a disabling condition associated with pain and proprioceptive disturbances. There is limited evidence on the efficacy of treatments for chronic neck pain (CNP). The aim of this study is to conduct a randomized, controlled trial to compare the effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) with that of cervical proprioception training (CPT) on pain and proprioception acuity in patients with chronic neck pain. Subjects and methods: Forty-eight patients with CNP enrolled in this prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled study will be randomly allocated to one of four groups: GVS, CPT, GVS + CPT, and control. The GVS group will receive galvanic stimulation, three sessions per week, for 6 weeks. The CPT group will perform proprioceptive exercises daily for 6 weeks. The GVS + CPT group will receive both interventions. The control group will have no intervention for 6 weeks, but 6 weeks later, they will receive physical therapy. In addition, 12 healthy subjects will be recruited. This study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Review Board of Iran University of Medical Sciences, with permission number IR.IUMS.REC 1395.9211342210 on August 8, 2016. Patient recruitment began in October 2016 and ended in October 2018. Data analysis will be performed in March 2019 and the study will be completed in May 2019. Outcome measures: The primary outcome measures will be intensity of pain, pressure pain threshold, and joint position error. The secondary outcome measures will be disability and health-related quality of life. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at the end of sessions 1 and 18. Discussion: Findings from the trial are expected to help assess the effectiveness of GVS, compared with CPT in patients with CNP. If this protocol is proven to be effective, it can be implemented in a clinical setting to manage chronic pain in patients with CNP. We expect this study to offer information about the positive effects of GVS and CPT. Findings from this study will be helpful in progressing GVS from science to practice and in managing disturbances in CNP. Trial registration: The study was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials on September 26, 2016 (IRCT2016060121459N2).

The Effect of a 4-Week Wobble Board Training Program on Proprioceptive Acuity

The Effect of a 4-Week Wobble Board Training Program on Proprioceptive Acuity

A study to analyze the effectiveness of exercise program in improving the proprioceptive acuity among patients with chronic neck pain

Introduction and Aim: Neck pain is estimated to affect 10% to 20% of the Indian population every year, with1/3rd of people developing chronicity, which is predominantly due to impaired proprioception. Clinical texts specifically recommend the assessment and management of proprioceptive dysfunction, there is lack of clear evidence for proprioceptive dysfunction in different subgroups of chronic neck pain Materials and Methods: Thirty-two subjects were included and sub-grouped based on their dysfunction. Group A- mechanical neck pain (n= 10), Group B- upper cervical involvement (n= 10) and Group C- cervical radiculopathy (n= 12). The baseline evaluation consisted of Cervico Cephalic Relocation (CCR) test, Deep Cervical Flexor (DCF) endurance, and Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire, which was again taken at the end of two weeks following intervention. Results: In all three groups, joint position error was observed and following intervention, a significant improvement in the outcomes had occurred, with greater improvement in Group A, followed by B, then C. On comparison between the groups, the right and left rotations of CCR, DCF endurance and NDI (p value 0.05) were similar. Conclusion: Proprioception training should form an integral part of rehabilitating patients with chronic neck pain. Keywords: Neck pain; proprioception; cervical joint position error; Cervico cephalic relocation test.

Proprioceptive deficits in inactive older adults are not reflected in fast targeted reaching movements

During normal healthy ageing there is a decline in the ability to control simple movements, characterised by increased reaction times, movement durations and variability. There is also growing evidence of age-related proprioceptive loss which may contribute to these impairments. However, this relationship has not been studied in detail for the upper limb. We recruited 20 younger adults (YAs) and 31 older adults (OAs) who each performed 2 tasks on a 2D robotic manipulandum. The first assessed dynamic proprioceptive acuity using active, multi-joint movements constrained by the robot to a pre-defined path. Participants made perceptual judgements of the lateral position of the unseen arm. The second task required fast, accurate and discrete movements to the same targets in the absence of visual feedback of the hand, and without robotic intervention. We predicted that the variable proprioceptive error (uncertainty range) assessed in Task 1 would be increased in physically inactive OAs and would predict increased movement variability in Task 2. Instead we found that physically inactive OAs had larger systematic proprioceptive errors (bias) than YAs (t[33] = 2.8, p = 0.009), and neither proprioceptive uncertainty nor bias was related to motor performance in either age group (all regression model R2 ≤ 0.06). We suggest that previously reported estimates of proprioceptive decline with ageing may be exaggerated by task demands and that the extent of these deficits is unrelated to control of discrete, rapid movement. The relationship between dynamic proprioceptive acuity and movement control in other tasks with greater emphasis on online feedback is still unclear and warrants further investigation.

Treinamento neuromuscular aquático com ênfase proprioceptiva: influência na potência mecânica muscular e na altura de salto

INTRODUÇÃO: Tarefas motoras treinadas em ambiente aquático parecem potencializar o sistema proprioceptivo. Porém, é necessário investigar o efeito do meio aquático no desempenho neuromuscular de atletas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito de uma intervenção por exercícios neuromusculares funcionais aquáticos, com ênfase no sistema sensorial proprioceptivo, nas variáveis altura do salto e potência muscular, tendo a acuidade proprioceptiva como covariável. METODOLOGIA: Amostra composta por 14 homens universitários praticantes de futsal e dividida em grupo controle (GC/n=7) e grupo intervenção (GI/n=7). As variáveis potência mecânica muscular e altura do salto foram avaliadas por meio do teste de salto vertical de 60 segundos. A acuidade proprioceptiva foi avaliada pelo senso de posição articular e pela cinestesia quantificados pelo teste de percepção de movimentos passivos lentos (Tpassivo) e pelo teste de senso de posição articular (Tativo). As variáveis de desfecho foram mensuradas em dois momentos: antes e após a intervenção. A intervenção aquática foi aplicada durante seis semanas com três sessões em cada semana. RESULTADOS: Não houve efeito de grupo e nem do momento da avaliação na altura do salto, sendo que o GC alcançou altura de salto de 19,9±0,8 cm em comparação com o GI chegando a altura de 20,3±1,4 cm. Na potência mecânica muscular não houve efeito do momento, mas houve efeito do grupo, em que o GC apresentou potência de 366,2±17,6 W, enquanto GI apresentou 332,0±21,2 W, sendo menor que o GC. Nem o Tativo e nem o Tpassivo influenciaram a altura de salto e a potência mecânica muscular. CONCLUSÃO: A intervenção de exercícios neuromusculares aquáticos funcionais, com ênfase na propriocepção não afetou nem a potência muscular nem a altura do salto, este resultado não foi influenciado pela acuidade proprioceptiva.

The effects of pain on quadriceps strength, joint proprioception and dynamic balance among women aged 65 to 75\xa0years with knee osteoarthritis

BackgroundPatients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were reported to have quadriceps weakness, and impaired proprioception, both related to pain and swelling. It is unclear whether pain alone a causal factor to above findings over the knee joint. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of knee pain alone on the quadriceps strength, proprioception and dynamic balance in subjects with bilateral knee OA without joint swelling.MethodsFourty females with mean age of 68.3 years were involved in this cross-sectional study. The inclusion criteria were bilateral knee OA without joint swelling, with a visual analogue pain scale difference (> 1) between each knee. Patients all underwent assessment of the isokinetic strength of knee muscles, knee proprioceptive acuity, and dynamic balance.ResultsPatients’ more painful knee had weaker isokinetic quadriceps strength than less painful knee at both 60 °/s and 180 °/s (p = 0.01, p = 0.01, respectively). There were no differences in proprioceptive acuity between both knees in all three knee positions. Meanwhile, there was a significant difference in the dynamic balance index measurement between both knees (more painful versus less painful: 3.88 ± 1.15 vs. 3.30 ± 1.00, p = 0.01). Quadriceps strength was associated with dynamic balance stability (60 °/s, r = − 0.578, p < 0.01; 180 °/s, r = − 0.439, p < 0.01).ConclusionsFor patients with knee OA, the more painful knee was associated with weaker quadriceps and poor balance ability. To improve lower limb function and balance stability of the older persons having knee OA, physicians should take the optimal pain management strategy.

The Role of Ankle and Knee Joints Proprioceptive Acuity in Improving the Elderly Balance After 8-Week Aquatic Exercise

The Role of Ankle and Knee Joints Proprioceptive Acuity in Improving the Elderly Balance After 8-Week Aquatic Exercise