This study aimed to investigate the relationship between leg muscle mass measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and knee pain/stiffness in patients with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Osteoarthritis (OA) is progressive joint disease
characterized by joint inflammation. Potency of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for leg muscle mass has been
explored in this study article. Thus, it's significance has been efficiently
deduced to study osteoarthritis.
This study aimed
to investigate the relationship between leg muscle mass measured by dual-energy
X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and knee pain/stiffness in patients with
radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA).
We performed a
cross-sectional study using data from the Fifth Korean National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey. We included participants with radiographic knee
OA (Kellgren–Lawrence grade ≥ 2) and obtained the degree of knee pain/stiffness
and body composition of both legs and the whole body using DEXA. We calculated
the ratios of legs to whole body in terms of muscle and fat mass. Analysis of
covariance and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine
the associations of leg to whole body mass in patients with knee symptoms,
adjusting for possible confounders.
We analyzed data
for 1664 individuals. The ratio of leg to whole body muscle mass (LTWMM) was
significantly lower in the group with knee pain or stiffness (30.27 ± 0.10 vs.
30.92 ± 0.08%, P < 0.0001). We found a significant inverse trend between the
degree of knee pain and LTWMM (P for trend < 0.01). LTWMM was 14% lower in
persons with severe pain (P = 0.012) when adjusted for age and sex. Leg to
whole body fat mass was higher in the group with knee pain or stiffness (28.65
± 0.22 vs. 27.95 ± 0.17%, P = 0.009).
DEXA-measured leg
muscle mass was significantly associated with knee pain in people with radiographic
knee OA. Low leg muscle mass is a useful clinical indicator for symptomatic
knee OA, and DEXA is potentially an excellent tool to quickly assess leg mass
in patients with knee OA.
International journal of rheumatic diseases
Lower leg muscle mass relates to knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis
Ji Yeon Lee et al.
Comments (0)