Stronger Thigh Muscles May Prevent Knee Replacement Surgery

Advanced knee osteoarthritis is a major cause of pain and disability worldwide.

In the U.S. alone, 14 million adults have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, and more than half of those diagnosed are projected to eventually undergo total knee replacement surgery.

While stronger muscle groups are generally understood to be associated with a lower rate of total knee replacement, their relative importance is not well established.

Of particular interest is the relationship between the extensors and the hamstrings, the two most important muscle groups in the knee.

The extensors, the muscles on the front of the thigh commonly referred to as the quadriceps, are the strongest muscle group in the body and have essential influence on gait, other activities and biomechanics.

The muscles around the back of the thigh known as the hamstrings are responsible for extension of the hip and flexion of the knee, making them equally essential for physical activity.

“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 study lead author 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, a nationwide study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

They compared 67 patients who underwent total knee replacement of a single knee with 67 control participants who had not undergone knee replacement.

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.

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.

“While these results are essential for targeted therapy in a population at risk for osteoarthritis, even the general public can benefit from our results to preventively incorporate appropriate strengthening exercises,” Dr. Upadhyay Bharadwaj said.

Sources:

Radiological Society of North America. “Stronger thigh muscles may prevent knee replacement surgery.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 November 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231127180710.htm>.

Materials provided by Radiological Society of North America. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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