The International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form: normative data

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• The International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form is a key tool for evaluating knee symptoms and function.
• Normative data are essential for interpreting results from this widely used instrument.
• Existing data lacked comprehensive normative values for various knee conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative data for the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form.
• To aid clinicians and researchers in interpreting patient outcomes.
• To provide a benchmark for evaluating knee function in different demographics.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey design was employed.
• The Subjective Knee Evaluation Form was distributed to a large, representative US population sample.
• Data were collected across eight age and gender categories, stratified by census data.

Main Results:

• Complete data from 5246 knees were analyzed.
• Twenty-eight percent of participants reported knee issues.
• Mean scores varied by age and gender, with higher scores reported by individuals without knee problems.

Conclusions:

• International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form scores are influenced by age, gender, and prior knee issues.
• The established normative data enable comparison of patient function against age- and gender-matched peers.
• This facilitates more accurate clinical outcome assessment and research interpretation.