رابطه درد و ناتوانی بیماران دچار استئوآرتریت زانو با ضعف عضلانی، دفرمیتی و تغییرات رادیوگرافیک

Abstract Background and purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of disability in the elderly and treatment is limited to primary care. Osteoarthritis knee disease is an active process of a diseaase involving knee cartilage and characterized by damaged cartilage, decreased joint space, sclerosis and thickening of bone under the cartilage, cysts and cartilage under the new bone formation. Materials and methods: This descriptive study was undertaken in 2008 on 60 patients (35 females and 25 males) with knee osteoarthritis. The patients with knee osteoarthritis were screened based on criteria of knee pain and radiographic changes and referred to the orthopedic clinic of Imam Khomeini hospital in Sari. Results: Pearson Chi-square comparison between disability and pain intensity showed a significant relationship (P= 0.001). Also a significant relationship was seen between the severity of disability and weakness of the hip and leg muscles (P= 0.005). Conclusion: There is a direct relationship between the pain and muscle strength around the knee with the severity of patient disability. Along recommendations to reduce patient's pain, muscles strength should also brought back to normal. If both measured are done simultaneously, the best results will follow. Key words: Knee osteoarthritis, debilitating, knee instability