Difference in Hamstring and Quadriceps recruitment ratio between knee pain subjects and Asymptomatic subjects: A cross-sectional observational study

BACKGROUND

Knee pain is the second most common musculoskeletal condition in Indian population and it is the most frequent joint disease with the prevalence of 22% to 39% in India. Musculoskeletal conditions affecting the knee leads to pain and functional limitations. The knee function mainly depends on the balance between hamstring and quadriceps muscle recruitment. The present study is planned to assess the Hamstring and Quadriceps recruitment of patients with knee pain and to be compared with normal subjects, and to see whether there is any reduction in the strength of two muscle groups would result in a significant difference in the H:Q ratio.

AIM:

The study aim is to compare the Hamstring and Quadriceps recruitment ratio between the knee pain subjects and asymptomatic subjects.

OBJECTIVE:

➢ To compare the difference in Hamstring and Quadriceps recruitment ratio in knee pain subjects and asymptomatic subjects by undergoing isometric muscle strength of Hamstring and Quadriceps using a Push-pull Dynamometer.

➢ The functional ability will be measured using the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome

Survey(KOOS).

➢ To find a relationship of functional ability between symptomatic knee pain subjects and asymptomatic subjects using KOOS

NEED FOR STUDY:

Despite the importance of the H: Q ratio, there is limited research specifically comparing this ratio between knee pain patients and healthy individuals.  Knee pain may alter muscle recruitment patterns, affecting the balance between hamstrings and quadriceps. Investigating the specific differences in the H: Q ratio in pain patients could provide valuable insights.

PROCEDURE:

Institutional Ethical Committee, SRIHER will be obtained and the Study will be registered in Clinical Trial Registry of India. The participants will be screened for eligibility criteria. Once participant fulfills inclusion criteria, informed consent will be obtained and all the baseline assessment will be done to the both knee pain subjects and asymptomatic subjects. The subjects will be assessed for isometric muscle strength with the hand-held dynamometer and then the range of motion will be assessed for both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. After the assessment the recruitment ratio of all subjects are noted and compared to know whether there is any reduction in the recruitment ratio of knee pain subjects compared to asymptomatic subjects.