Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to analyze the kinematics of sit-to-stand motion (STS) in subjects with knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) and to demonstrate the factor of impairment responsible for pathogenesis and progression of knee OA based on discussion from the standpoint of the kinetic chain of the thorax-pelvis-lower extremity. [Subjects] The subjects were 17 patients with knee OA and 16 age-matched asymptomatic controls. [Methods] Subjects performed STS from a chair with a seat adjusted to the height of the subject's lower leg. Kinematic data of the body segment and joint angles were collected using a motion analysis system (Kissei Comtec). [Results] There were no significant differences between joint angular velocity averages of the body segment in forward movement of center of mass (COM), but those of the knee and ankle in upward movement of COM were significantly smaller. [Conclusion] These results suggest that knee OA subjects can't transfer kinetic energy generated in trunk forward tilting to the lower extremity, making it difficult for them to keep appropriate knee movement and alignment.
