A COMPARISON OF HAMSTRING- QUADRICEPS RATIO IN PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS AND ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS AND ITS EFFECTS ON WALKING TIME

Background: Symptomatic knee problems in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) progresses with a pattern of disease related impairments such as joint pain, loss of lower limb muscle strength, gait problems and disabilities. Especially knee extention strength reduces in knee pain. The flexion tendency of knee posture and deficiency of resiprocal knee movement spontaineously in patients with OA and AS may be a dominant factor in this weakness and gait problems.Objective: To compare the ratio of hamstring- quadriceps (H/Q) strength and its effects on walking time in patients with OA and AS.Methods: 18 OA patients and 18 AS patients were included in this study. Strength of knee flexion and extantion were measured by dynomometer from right and left side. H/Q was determined for each side for each patient. 10 m walking time was also recorded.Results: There was no difference between AS and OA patients in terms of H/Q (right, p= 0,702; left, p= 0,760) and 10 m walking time (p= 0,994). No correlation was found between 10 m walking time and H/Q both AS and OA patient group. AS and OA patients values N = 18 AS patients OA patients t p Mean ± SD (Min - Max) Mean ± SD (Min - Max) Age (years) 36,44 ± 12,72 (19-64) 53,66 ± 7,14 (34 -64) Height (cm) 167,67 ± 8,26 (155-184) 166,72 ± 3,59 (156-168) Body weight(kg) 64,56 ± 12,29 (44-84) 74,00 ± 9,58 (52-90) 10m walking(sec) 6,11 ± 1,40 (3,65-10,30) 6,11 ± 1,04 (3,95-8,45) -0,008 0,994 H/Q (right) 0,77 ± 0,30 (0,41-1,74) 0,81 ± 0,25 0,40-1,28) -0,385 0,702 H/Q (left) 0,85 ± 0,27 0,47-1,31) 0,82 ± 0,21 (0,53-1,33) 0,307 0,760 Conclusion: We thought that knee musculature was influenced similarly by both AS and knee OA patient. Thereby, we should apply a theraphy approach for the knee of an AS patient as a similar concept applying for the knee of an OA patient. It is concluded that H/Q was not a descriptive factor alone affecting walking time.Citation: Ann Rheum Dis, volume 64, supplement III, year 2005, page 604Session: Spondylarthropathies