Background

Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with several physical impairments but investigations into balance impairments in this population are limited. Understanding balance impairments in ankle OA may help inform the management of this condition.

Research question

Does balance overall performance differ between individuals with symptomatic radiographic ankle OA, asymptomatic radiographic ankle OA and healthy controls? Are there any differences in mediolateral or anteroposterior balance, or confidence to perform balance tasks between these groups?

Methods

Ninety-six volunteers (31 symptomatic radiographic ankle OA, 41 asymptomatic radiographic ankle OA and 24 healthy controls) completed six static balance tasks: bilateral stance on a firm surface, bilateral stance on foam, and tandem stance, all performed with eyes open and closed. Centre of pressure (COP) data were collected using force plates. Confidence to perform each balance task was collected using an 11-point numerical rating scale.

Results

Compared to controls, participants with symptomatic radiographic ankle OA had greater COP area when standing on a firm surface, foam and in tandem with eyes closed (all p < 0.05) and greater total COP sway in both firm surface and tandem stance conditions (p < 0.04). Participants with symptomatic ankle OA had greater COP area (p < 0.04) and total COP sway (p = 0.01) than those with asymptomatic ankle OA during tandem stance. Total COP sway and area were similar between asymptomatic ankle OA and control participants. Some differences in mediolateral and anteroposterior balance were identified between groups. Individuals with symptomatic ankle OA had lower confidence to perform the tandem stance eyes closed task compared to controls.

Significance

Balance impairments and decreased balance confidence were identified in those with symptomatic radiographic ankle OA compared to asymptomatic individuals with and without radiographic ankle OA. This suggests that balance deficits in ankle OA may be related to symptoms, rather than radiographic evidence of disease.

中文翻译：

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有症状的踝关节骨关节炎的平衡受损：一项横断面研究

背景

踝关节骨关节炎 (OA) 与多种身体障碍有关，但对该人群平衡障碍的调查有限。了解踝关节 OA 的平衡障碍可能有助于为这种情况的管理提供信息。

研究问题

有症状的放射学踝关节 OA、无症状的放射学踝关节 OA 和健康对照者的平衡整体表现是否不同？这些组之间在中间或前后平衡或执行平衡任务的信心方面是否存在差异？

方法

96 名志愿者（31 名有症状的放射学踝关节 OA、41 名无症状的放射学踝关节 OA 和 24 名健康对照者）完成了六项静态平衡任务：双侧站立在坚固的表面上，双侧站立在泡沫上，以及双侧站立，所有这些任务都是在睁眼和闭眼的情况下进行的. 使用测力板收集压力中心 (COP) 数据。使用 11 点数字评分量表收集执行每个平衡任务的信心。

结果

与对照组相比，有症状的放射学踝关节 OA 的参与者在站立在坚固的表面、泡沫和双目闭眼时具有更大的 COP 面积（所有 p < 0.05），并且在坚固的表面和串联站立条件下的总 COP 摆动更大（p < 0.04）。与无症状踝关节 OA 的参与者相比，在串联站立期间，有症状的踝关节 OA 参与者的 COP 面积（p < 0.04）和总 COP 摆动（p = 0.01）更大。无症状踝关节 OA 和对照参与者的总 COP 摆动和面积相似。在组间确定了中间外侧和前后平衡的一些差异。与对照组相比，有症状的踝关节 OA 患者执行串联站立闭眼任务的信心较低。

意义

与有和没有放射学踝关节 OA 的无症状个体相比，在有症状的放射学踝关节 OA 患者中发现了平衡障碍和平衡信心下降。这表明踝关节 OA 的平衡缺陷可能与症状有关，而不是与疾病的影像学证据有关。