Strengthen Those Quads to Curtail Knee Pain

Knee osteoarthritis is the main cause of chronic disability in older persons.  Age and overweight are the principal factors that influence its development, which can be slowed by appropriate treatment, but is still progressive. University of Iowa physicians have tried to determine the role of muscle dysfunction in knee osteoarthritis. They’ve published their findings in Arthritis Care & Research.   

Over 3,000 men and women, who were free of symptoms of knee arthritis and aged 50 to 79, were followed for a 30-month period to see whether the strength in their quadriceps (the muscles on the front of the thigh) could predict the onset of X-ray changes or pain signifying deterioration of the condition. Quad muscle strength was measured at baseline by an isokinetic dynamometer, and knee X-rays were done at baseline and after 30 months. Knee pain was assessed at baseline and after 30 months.

X-ray evidence of knee osteoarthritis was seen in 48 of 680 men and 93 of 937 women at the end of the study. And symptomatic osteoarthritis (pain, aching, and stiffness) was found in 10.1% of women and 7.8% of men.

There was no apparent association between quadriceps strength at baseline and the development of X-ray changes 30 months later. However, in women (but not in men) increased quadriceps strength was linked to a lower risk of developing pain and related symptoms.

The next stage for study is to see whether strengthening the thigh muscles might help people avoid arthritic knees. In the meantime, I’d do the exercises anyway – just about all resistance exercises are good for you in a general way, as well as for strengthening a specific muscle group.