Article

Received 21.07.2025

Revised 17.10.2025

Accepted 12.12.2025

Retrieved from Vol. 1, No. 1, 2025

Pages 40 -50

Chikhalin, K., & Grichanova, T. (2025). Influence of the eccentric mode of muscle contraction on pain intensity and mobility limitations in individuals with impaired knee joint function. Journal of Human Biology and Clinical Medicine, 1(1), 40-50. https://doi.org/10.63621/jhbcm/1.2025.40

Influence of the eccentric mode of muscle contraction on pain intensity and mobility limitations in individuals with impaired knee joint function

Kirill Chikhalin, Tatyana Grichanova

With the increase in the number of patients presenting with pain and reduced mobility of the knee joint, the search for effective methods of functional restoration at the early stages of osteoarthritis became particularly important. The aim of the study was to identify a possible relationship between pain intensity, movement limitations in the joint and parameters of the eccentric mode of muscle contraction in individuals with impaired knee joint function. Within the study, an experiment was carried out in a medical centre to investigate the eccentric mode of muscle contraction in knee osteoarthritis. During the rehabilitation sessions, emphasis was placed on the eccentric phase of contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscle. Electromyograph readings, pain intensity on the visual analogue scale (VAS) and range of motion in the joint measured by goniometer were recorded before and after the experiment. The mean amplitude of eccentric contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscle more than doubled; for example, in the vastus lateralis muscle it increased from 98.7 µV to 298.4 µV. After the course of sessions, full knee extension was achieved in six of nine participants, and the level of pain decreased in all subjects, including complete disappearance of pain in two individuals. According to the results of the study, the eccentric mode of muscle contraction showed its effectiveness in reducing pain level, increasing range of motion and enhancing indices of electromyographic activity. The eccentric mode developed muscle strength and neuromuscular control during movement and reduced mechanical load on the articular cartilage. The results of this study demonstrated that exercises in an eccentric mode for the quadriceps femoris muscle at the initial stages of knee osteoarthritis may be effective, acting simultaneously on the cause (muscle weakness) and the consequences (pain, limitation of joint range of motion). The obtained findings may be used in the development of individual rehabilitation programmes for patients with early forms of knee osteoarthritis

gonarthrosis, electromyography, negative phase, knee pain, range of motion
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