Lower levels of chair stand performance and self-reported physical activity are not associated with an increased risk of knee replacement (KR) in older adults with frequent knee pain, according to a recent study. A total of 1,257 participants from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST), with a mean age of 62.2, were included in the study. Researchers examined the association between baseline peak isokinetic knee extensor strength, best time in timed chair stand, and baseline Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly score (PASE) with incident KR between baseline and the 84-month follow-up. They found:

• 331 participants (394 knees) underwent a KR during the 84 months (229 women and 102 men).

• There was a decreased risk of KR in women with higher knee extensor strength.

• The risk remained significant when adjusting for age, BMI, clinic site, education, occupation, previous knee injury, previous knee surgery, and WOMAC pain, but not when adjusting for Kellgren-Lawrence grade.

Citation: Skou S, Wise B, Lewis CE, Felson D, Nevitt M, Segal NA. Muscle strength, physical performance and physical activity as predictors of future knee replace: a prospective cohort study. [Published online ahead of print April 8, 2016]. Osteoarthr Cartil. doi:10.1016/joca.2016.04.001.