Correlation between hamstring tightness and time duration of disease in knee osteoarthritis: an observational cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is gradually developing articular diseases that originate in the cartilage and affects the underlying bone, soft tissues as well as synovial fluid. OA usually occurs late in life and mainly it affects the hand and large weight-bearing joints such as the knee and hip. The knee joint is largely affected due to its weight-bearing nature. In many studies, this functional loss is related to muscular weakness caused by OA in particular the quadriceps and hamstring muscles^. Flexibility is the ability of a muscle to lengthen and allow one joint [or more than one joint in a series] to move through a range of motion. The hamstring muscle group have tendency to shorten and the tightening results in increased patello-femoral compressive force, which may eventually lead to patello-femoral syndrome often associated with osteoarthritis. Method: Seventeen patients with knee osteoarthritis matched with the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Sit and Reach test was used to evaluate the hamstring tightness. Goniometer was used to evaluate knee active range of motion Spearman’s correlation was used to determine the relationship between hamstring tightness and duration of disease in knee osteoarthritis. Result: The present study found significant inverse correlation (r = -0.07) between hamstring tightness and duration of disease such that the hamstring flexibility decreases with increase in the duration of knee osteoarthritis. However, the correlation between duration of disease and knee active range of motion was negligible (r = 0.25). Conclusion: The results states that hamstring tightness and duration of the disease in knee osteoarthritis are correlated. Further research is indicated with a larger sample size. Keywords: Knee osteoarthritis, hamstring tightness, osteoarthritis.