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BACKGROUND: Tibial rotation accompanying sagittal movement contains the phenomenon of screw-home movement (SHM) of the knee, which plays an important role in knee stability during extension. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the change of SHM in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Thirty-one sex-matched patients with knee OA and 31 normal subjects were recruited. The total tibial rotation was obtained during knee sagittal movement (extension and flexion) using an inertial measurement unit. The acquired angle of tibial rotation was divided into eight periods. The total tibial rotation and the variation of each period were compared between the OA and control groups. The difference in tibial rotation according to Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade was compared. RESULTS: The total tibial rotation of the OA group decreased compared with the control group during knee extension and flexion (P< 0.001). Variations of tibial rotation were significantly different between groups in all periods (P< 0.001) except for knee extension at 70° to 45° (P= 0.081). There was no significant difference in tibial rotations among the KA grades of OA patients. CONCLUSION: We found a reduction in the total tibial rotation and loss of the SHM in the unloaded OA knee. It could be predicted that reduced SHM appeared early in knee OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in muscle activity and tactile perception ability through muscle facilitation Method/Statistical analysis: The subjects of this study was consisted of 51 adults (26 males, 25 females) and randomly assigned to 26 experimental and 25 control groups. In both groups, a moving two-point discrimination test was performed on middle trapezius,upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, and posterior deltoid. In the experimental group, muscle facilitation was performed for activation of the back muscle. In addition, EMG was used for the two groups to compare before and after muscle activation to the middle trapezius, upper trapezius, and posterior deltoid. after those muscles were re-tested to two-point discrimination. Findings: In this study, it was found that the muscle facilitation promoted the increase of muscle activity and the sensitivity of two-point discrimination due to simultaneous activation of the motorcortex and sensory cortex (p <.001*). It was also found that activation through muscle stimulation affects the same spinal level as well due to the change in the tactile perception ability of the sternocleidomastoid along the same nerve branch of the middle trapezius.(p <.0.041*). Improvements/Applications: This can interpret that muscle facilitation leads to changes in muscle activation and changes in tactile perception ability. Therefore, the results of this are expected to be the basis for future improvement of motor function and sensory function in patients with brain injuries or those with low function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]