Measuring body weight distribution during sit-to-stand in patients with early knee osteoarthritis

People with severe degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis (OA), have been shown to have altered movement patterns during sit-to-stand. However it remains unclear whether such alterations exist in people with early OA, in the absence of pain. This study aimed to determine if a novel seat could be used to discriminate people with early OA compared with controls. The sit-to-stand task was performed by 20 people with early medial knee OA and 20 age and gender-matched control subjects, using an instrumented seat. OA subjects showed altered weight distribution in the transition phase from sit to stand, in that they placed more load through their unaffected side. Task duration was significantly longer for OA subjects, and ground reaction force integrals were significantly greater for both legs of OA subjects. OA subjects had significantly higher knee flexion and adduction moments in their unaffected compared with affected side. This study has demonstrated that a novel instrumented seat can be used to discriminate people with early medial knee OA during the sit-to-stand activity. These results may be relevant for early interventions to delay or prevent changes in muscle function of the affected limb as well as contralateral knee or hip osteoarthritis in these patients.