Jumping Joints: The Complex Relationship Between Osteoarthritis and Jumping Mechanography

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Lower limb osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent in older adults, often leading to reduced mobility and quality of life.
• Muscle strength and power are critical for functional independence in aging populations.
• The relationship between OA and specific measures of muscle function, like power assessed via jumping mechanography, requires further investigation in community-dwelling older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between lower limb osteoarthritis (OA) and muscle strength and power in UK community-dwelling older adults.
• To utilize jumping mechanography to assess maximum muscle force and power.
• To explore sex-specific relationships between clinical and radiographic OA and muscle function outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 249 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 75.2 years) in the UK.
• Assessed knee OA clinically (ACR criteria) and radiographically (Kellgren and Lawrence grading) at the knee and hip.
• Measured maximum muscle force, power, and Esslinger Fitness Index using two-footed jumping tests on a Leonardo Mechanography Ground Reaction Force Platform.

Main Results:

• Males exhibited higher maximum relative power and total force than females.
• Clinical knee OA in males was associated with lower maximum relative power and Esslinger Fitness Index.
• Radiographic knee OA in females was associated with lower total maximum power and Esslinger Fitness Index.

Conclusions:

• Significant negative associations exist between muscle function (relative power, total power, fitness index) and osteoarthritis in both male and female older adults.
• Novel methodology demonstrated quantifiable relationships between muscle function deficits and OA.
• Findings underscore the importance of assessing muscle function in older adults with OA to understand functional limitations.