Lower-extremity Strength, Power and Knee Loading in Young Women

INTRODUCTION The peak knee adduction moment (PKAM) is a gait measure which best represents the mechanical pathology associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Recent research has focused on whether the PKAM is modified by muscle function. While knee strengthening exercises reduce pain and improve quality of life, strengthening has little effect on the PKAM in OA [1]. Lower-limb muscle power is more useful than strength in explaining physical performance in healthy aging [2]. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of knee strength and power on the adduction moment during gait.