Trunk movement patterns are associated with knee flexion moment changes while utilizing the somatosensory system during stair climbing: clinical trial crossover study

Reduced quadriceps function and disturbance in motion patterns during walking and stair climbing have been observed in patients with knee pathologies and have been suggested to contribute to accelerated development of post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) in this population. As such, interventions to restore quadriceps function during ambulation is an important consideration in this population. One such intervention that uses bands placed above and below the knee to apply an intermittent vibrational stimulation to the somatosensory system has been shown to improve quadriceps function in patients with knee disabilities during walking. However, stair ascent, which produces larger joint angles and moments than level walking, has not been tested with this intervention. Quadriceps function during stair climbing is important since abnormal patterns of knee flexion moment (KFM) and trunk posture measured by trunk flexion angle (TFA) have been reported in patients with knee pathologies. Further, trunk posture during stair climbing could provide a useful method to evaluate interventions and enhance quadriceps function without the need for full gait analysis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether movement pattern changes during stair ascent in patients wearing active and passive knee bands are associated with changes in KFM using a placebo-controlled cross over clinical study design. We hypothesized that there will be changes in (1) peak KFM and (2) peak TFA during stair ascent from baseline to follow-up wearing the active (vibration and pressure) and passive (pressure) cutaneous stimulation. Further, we hypothesized that (3) the change in peak TFA over the follow-up period will be correlated with the change in peak KFM.