Knee Flexion Contracture Associated With a Contracture and Worse Function of the Contralateral Knee: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative

摘要

Objective: Patients at risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (OA) or those already diagnosed with knee OA may present with a knee flexion contracture (FC). A knee FC can cause pain and can decrease function. By altering lower extremity biomechanics, the effect of a knee FC goes beyond the affected joint. Compensatory movements during gait can chronically affect other joints in both lower limbs. Few studies describe the effect of a knee FC on, or direct assessment toward, the contralateral knee. We investigated the associations between knee FC with range of extension, function, pain, and stiffness of the contralateral knee.