Knee buckling: prevalence, risk factors, and associated limitations in function

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Gerontology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Knee buckling is a recognized issue in advanced knee osteoarthritis and post-orthopedic surgery.
• Its prevalence and impact within the general adult population remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the community prevalence of knee buckling.
• To identify associated risk factors for knee buckling.
• To investigate the relationship between knee buckling and functional limitations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted using data from the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study.
• 2351 adults (aged 36-94 years) reported knee buckling experiences, falls, pain, and functional limitations (SF-12, WOMAC).
• Quadriceps strength, knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence scale), and ACL tears were assessed; logistic regression analyzed buckling's association with function.

Main Results:

• 11.8% of participants reported knee buckling in the past 3 months, with 78.1% experiencing recurrent episodes.
• Knee buckling was independently associated with knee pain and quadriceps weakness.
• Individuals with knee buckling exhibited significantly worse physical function and work limitations compared to those without, irrespective of osteoarthritis severity.

Conclusions:

• Knee buckling is a prevalent issue in the adult community.
• It is strongly associated with knee pain, quadriceps weakness, and significant functional limitations.
• The findings highlight the need for further research into the causes and management of knee buckling.