A correlation study of core muscles strength with rectus femoris flexibility and quadriceps strength in normal and obese patients with knee osteoarthritis

Background: Mostpeople with increasing age are suffering from different kinds of jointdiseases, among them, Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common one, which is aclinical condition of joint pain and dysfunction brought on by jointdeterioration. The knee is the most prevalent location for OA, even though variouslower extremity joints, including the ankle and hip, may be affected. OA raisesthe risk of morbidity and death, causes pain and disability, and lowers thequality of life. Increased age and Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most commonrisk factor for developing knee Osteoarthritis (knee OA), and also females aremore prone to develop knee OA. It has been proven that exercising regularly canlessen the discomfort caused by knee OA.

**Aim:**The aim of the study isto find the relation between core muscle strength with rectus femorisflexibility and quadriceps strength in obese and non-obese patients with kneeOA.

Methodology: Obeseand non-obese participants aged 40 to 70 will be recruited according to knee OAgrade 2 and 3. The demographic data of the participants will be allocated tothe obese and non-obese groups. Then the participants will be assessed for coremuscle strength, rectus femoris flexibility, and quadriceps strength and the dataobtained will be compared for both groups. Outcome measures like Pressure BiofeedbackUnit, Isokinetic Dynamometer, Ely’s Test, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) willbe used for the assessment.

Data analysis: Kolmogorov-Smirnovtest will be applied to check normality. If the data is found to be normallydistributed, the independent t-test will be used between groups. If the data isnot found to be normally distributed, then the Mann-Whitney U test will be used.

Keywords: Core muscle strength,knee osteoarthritis, Obese and non-obese, Rectus femoris flexibility, Quadricepsstrength