Dynamic Joint Stiffness of the Knee in Post-Menopausal Women with and without Rheumatoid Arthritis

This study compared rheumatoid arthritis (RA) post-menopausal women with pathological involvement of the lower limb joints and age-matched without RA regarding dynamic joint stiffness (DJS) knee during stance phase gait. Eighteen eighteen were selected. Gait assessed through a three-dimensional motion analysis system synchronized force plate. Subjects walked barefoot at self-selected speed, 14 valid trials collected (comprising 7 left right foot-steps on plate). The “moment force—angle” plot in sagittal plane was determined. split into three sub-phases: first flexion sub-phase (1st KFS); extension (KES); second (2nd KFS). A linear model represented each DJS calculated by slope. Model fitting coefficient determination (R2). R2 values for both groups higher than 0.8 1st KFS KES but not 2nd KFS. yielded value (p < 0.01). Concerning other sub-phases, no differences observed between groups. findings suggested splitting methodology used could be modelled relationship, namely, KES. During KFS, stiffer behavior.