Correlation between quadriceps activation and proprioception in patients with knee osteoarthritis

This study indicated that during stair climb, KOA patients display a unique pattern of elevated RMS of the VM. Notable relationships were identified between the absolute error angles of JPR and sEMG parameters of VM. The pronounced positive correlations in muscle activation patterns between walking and stair upward and downward activities indicate a fixed, task-invariant neuromuscular approach in KOA patients, possibly resulting from compromised sensorimotor integration due to proprioceptive impairments. These findings offer new insights into the pathogenesis of KOA from a neuromuscular-sensory viewpoint, emphasizing the need for future rehabilitation therapies to concurrently target proprioceptive accuracy and the enhancement of muscle activation patterns.