Thigh Muscle Activation After a Home Exercise Program in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Aims: To evaluate changes in the bioelectrical activity of thigh muscles in concentric and eccentric movements of a sit-to-stand test in women with knee osteoarthritis after a preoperative home exercise program (HEP). Secondly, to compare patients with healthy controls. Methods: Seventeen women with knee osteoarthritis and ten healthy controls participated. The bioelectrical activity of thigh muscles during sit-to-stand test and isometric maximal voluntary contraction force of leg extensor muscles were measured. Results: Post-HEP, the knee osteoarthritis group demonstrated lower bioelectrical activity of antagonist muscles in the concentric and eccentric movements, and reduced asymmetry in muscle activation between limbs. Poorer results were noted compared to controls pre-and post-HEP. Conclusions: In knee osteoarthritis patients, the bioelectrical activity of thigh muscles during the sit-to-stand test improves after eight weeks of preoperative HEP. Preoperative HEP reduces co-activation of thigh muscles and activation asymmetry between limbs in concentric and eccentric movements of a sit-to-stand task.