Journal of Human Biology and Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Currently, there is an increasing number of patients presenting with complaints of pain and limited mobility of the knee joint. The search for effective methods of restoring function in the early stages of osteoarthritis is becoming increasingly relevant. The aim of this study was to identify a possible relationship between pain intensity and eccentric contraction parameters in individuals with knee joint dysfunction. An experiment was conducted at a medical centre to study the eccentric mode of muscle contraction in knee osteoarthritis. During the rehabilitation sessions, emphasis was placed on the eccentric phase of quadriceps femoris muscle contraction. Myograph readings and pain levels assessed via a visual analog scale (VAS) were evaluated before and after the experiment. The mean amplitude of eccentric quadriceps contraction increased more than twofold: for instance, in the vastus lateralis muscle, it rose from 98.7 µV to 298.4 µV. Upon completion of the exercise course, full knee joint extension was recorded in six out of nine participants. All subjects demonstrated a reduction in pain syndrome intensity, with pain disappearing completely in two individuals. The study results showed that the eccentric mode of muscle contraction contributes to a reduction in pain levels and an increase in electromyographic activity indicators. This regimen facilitates the development of muscle strength and neuromuscular control during movement, as well as a reduction in mechanical load on the articular cartilage. The data obtained indicate that eccentric exercises for the quadriceps femoris muscle in the early stages of knee osteoarthritis can be effective, as they simultaneously address the cause (muscle weakness) and the consequence (pain, range of motion deficit). The results can be utilised in the development of individualised rehabilitation programs for patients with early-stage knee osteoarthritis

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