Highlights
- •Vastus medialis intramuscular fat did not differ between knee osteoarthritis groups
- •Higher intramuscular fat was not associated with knee osteoarthritis severity
- •Higher intramuscular fat was associated with reduced quadriceps muscle torque
- •Vastus medialis intramuscular fat may impair quadriceps muscle strength
Abstract
Background
Vastus medialis intramuscular fat has been proposed to be a modifiable determinant
of knee cartilage loss in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The objective was to
determine whether vastus medialis intramuscular fat relates to osteoarthritis severity
and quadriceps muscle strength in patients with non-traumatic and post-traumatic knee
osteoarthritis.
Methods
For this cross-sectional study, participants with knee osteoarthritis were classified
into two groups: non-traumatic (n = 22; mean age = 60 years) and post-traumatic (n = 19; mean age = 56 years). Healthy adults were included (n = 22; mean age = 59 years).
A 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure vastus medialis cross-sectional
area and intramuscular fat. Isometric knee extensor muscle torque was assessed using
an isokinetic dynamometer and normalized to body mass (Nm/kg). Knee osteoarthritis
severity was assessed using standing antero-posterior radiographs (Kellgren-Lawrence
scores). Regression analyses examined relationships between 1) vastus medialis intramuscular
fat with knee osteoarthritis severity and osteoarthritis group, after accounting for
sex and body mass index, and 2) knee extensor muscle torque with vastus medialis intramuscular
fat, after accounting for sex and vastus medialis cross-sectional area.
Findings
Vastus medialis intramuscular fat was positively associated with body mass index (B = 0.321,
P < 0.001), but not with osteoarthritis severity or group (P > 0.05). Higher vastus medialis intramuscular fat was associated with reduced knee
extensor muscle torque (B = -0.040, P = 0.018).
Interpretation
Greater vastus medialis intramuscular fat was associated with lower quadriceps muscle
strength in patients with knee OA. It is unclear whether this is due to the accumulation
of vastus medialis intramuscular fat or other potential factors, such as diet and
physical inactivity.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 15, 2022
Accepted:
May 11,
2022
Received:
September 16,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
