The association between hip strength, physical function and dynamic balance in people with unilateral knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In people with knee osteoarthritis, the association between multidirectional hip strength and physical function or balance is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between hip flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external and internal rotation strength and (1) physical function and (2) dynamic balance.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

METHODS: Forty-seven participants (20 men and 27 women, age 66.2 ± 8.2 years) with unilateral knee osteoarthritis were included. Hip strength was assessed with hand-held dynamometry; physical function was assessed with the 40m fast-paced walk test (40mFPWT), 30-s chair-stand test (30sCST), and stair-climb test (SCT); and dynamic balance was assessed in 3 directions using the Star Excursion Balance Test. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to determine the strength of relationships between measures.

RESULTS: Hip strength, in all directions except for internal rotation, was positively associated with better physical function (40mFPWT: R2  = 0.48 to 0.65; SCT: R2  = 0.5 to 0.54; 30sCST: R2  = 0.39 to 0.42), and dynamic balance (anterior: R2  = 0.33 to 0.45; posteromedial: R2  = 0.32 to 0.45; posterolateral: R2  = 0.27 to 0.35). Hip strength, after adjusting for knee extension strength, explained an additional 8%-12% (p < 0.05) and 5%-12% (p < 0.05) reach in the anterior and posteromedial directions of the Star Excursion Balance Test, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Hip strength in multiple directions is associated with measures of physical function and dynamic balance in people with unilateral knee osteoarthritis. Clinicians are encouraged to consider hip strength in multiple directions in the context of the patients' functional and/or balance goals when developing exercise programs for people with knee osteoarthritis.