Abstract
We examined knee isometric extension strength at various flexion angles in 16 patients with compression myelopathy (11 men and 5 women), whose mean age was 61.1 years (range: 44 to 79). Isometric peak torque values were measured in knee extensor muscles at three flexion angles (20, 40, 60 degrees). The patients were compared with the control group who did not show any symptoms indicating myelopathy (n=5; mean age, 60.8 yrs.). The isometric extension strength in the patients group was significantly (p<0.05) weaker than in controls at all three flexion angles. The peak torque at 60 degree flexion was the highest compared to that at 20 or 40 flexion in both groups. Compared to the peak torque at 60 degree, the % torque values at 20 and 40 degrees were 24.4 and 70.0% in the patients group, respectively. On the other hand, the values in the control group were 50.2 and 80.8%, respectively. The % torque at 20 degree in the patients group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). These data indicated that knee extensor isometric strength of the patients with myelopathy markedly decreased as the knee joint extended.
