Stronger thigh muscles may prevent knee replacement surgery (Strengthen quads)

Medical Xpress / Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America ^ | Nov. 27, 2023 | Upasana Upadhyay Bharadwaj, M.D. et al

[ConservativeMind]

Stronger quadriceps muscles, relative to the hamstrings, may lower the risk of total knee replacement, according to research. Researchers said the findings could inform strength-training programs for people with advanced arthritis in the knee.

"The two muscle groups act as counter forces, and the balance between them enables a wide range of activities while protecting the knee joint," said Upasana Upadhyay Bharadwaj, M.D. "An imbalance, in addition to other factors, leads to a change in the biomechanics resulting in the progression of osteoarthritis."

Dr. Upadhyay Bharadwaj and colleagues evaluated thigh muscle volume in 134 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. They compared 67 patients who underwent total knee replacement of a single knee with 67 control participants who had not undergone knee replacement. The cases and controls were matched for variables.

The researchers obtained 3T MRI of the thigh at the time of surgery. They also evaluated MRI findings from two years and four years before the surgery. They used a previously trained deep-learning model to segment and compute volumes of the muscles of the thigh.

Comparing patients who had total knee replacement with the control group, a higher ratio of quadriceps to hamstring volume was significantly associated with lower odds of total knee replacement. Higher volumes of hamstrings and gracilis, a long, thin muscle on the inside of the thigh, were also linked with lower odds of total knee replacement.

"Our study shows that in addition to strong muscles individually, larger extensor muscle groups—relative to hamstring muscle groups—are significantly associated with lower odds of total knee replacement surgery in two to four years," Dr. Upadhyay Bharadwaj said.

The study findings have implications for both the interpretation of imaging exams and clinical management. The results suggest that training programs that strengthen the quadriceps in relation to the hamstrings may be beneficial.

[dpetty121263]

Think you misunderstood me I already have both knees replaced at once back in Nov 2019,jogging in Mid January 2020. I would do it again 100 times over and pain free.

[entropy12]

Glad both knees are working. My cousin brother had both knees replaces, but one is painful.

[dpetty121263]

Mine are fine and had a recent check on them and they were just like new by X Ray.