This study aims to investigate the effects of fatigue induced by isokinetic exercise on passive and active joint position sense in postmenopausal women diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis). A healthy control group matched for age and sex will also be included for comparative analysis. Participants will undergo proprioceptive assessments before and after an isokinetic fatigue protocol. We hypothesize that (1) fatigue will impair both passive and active joint position sense in patients with gonarthrosis, (2) active joint position sense will be more affected than passive sense, and (3) the deterioration in proprioception will be greater in the gonarthrosis group compared to healthy controls.
Osteoarthritis, particularly knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis), is a progressive musculoskeletal disease that severely affects lower extremity functions. Proprioceptive impairments in these patients can lead to altered motor control, reduced movement accuracy, and increased risk of falls. Fatigue may exacerbate these impairments by affecting sensory feedback from muscle spindles and joint receptors, which is critical for joint stability and motor control. In postmenopausal women, hormonal changes further compound muscle weakness and joint instability, highlighting the clinical importance of understanding proprioceptive changes following fatigue. This experimental study will involve two groups: postmenopausal women with gonarthrosis and age-matched healthy controls. Participants will undergo an isokinetic fatigue protocol followed by assessments of passive and active joint position sense being more vulnerable. Understanding these changes will contribute to developing rehabilitation strategies focusing on proprioception and fatigue management. We expect that isokinetic fatigue will impair proprioception, with active joint position
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Groups will undergo an isokinetic fatigue protocol at 180°/s using a Biodex dynamometer. Passive and active joint position sense tests will be performed before and after fatigue.
Joint Position Sense
Passive Joint Position Sense Test: The knee joint will be passively moved to 45°, then returned to the starting position. The participant will be asked to perceive and replicate the same angle passively. The difference between the perceived and actual angles will be recorded. An isokinetic dynamometer will be used during this test. Active Joint Position Sense Test: With their eyes closed, participants will be asked to actively move their knee to 45° and then return to the starting position. They will then be asked to actively reproduce the same angle. The difference between the measured and target angles will be recorded. An isokinetic dynamometer will be used during this test.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention for 10 minutes
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