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Does strength of the quadriceps muscles affect progression of knee osteoarthritis? To address this question, researchers enrolled 265 patients with symptoms and radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis. At baseline, all patients underwent measurement of quadriceps strength, magnetic resonance imaging of the knee, and assessment of pain and physical function. At 15 and 30 months, MRI and symptom assessments were repeated.
Quadriceps strength at baseline was not associated with extent of MRI-detected cartilage loss at the medial or lateral tibiofemoral joint at 30 months. However, greater quadriceps strength predicted less cartilage loss at the lateral compartment of the patellofemoral joint. Greater quadriceps strength at baseline was ass…