Biomechanics of the lower limb in patients with mild knee osteoarthritis during the sit-to-stand task.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent and debilitating condition that markedly affects the sit-to-stand (STS) activity of patients, a prerequisite for daily activities. Biomechanical recognition of movements in patients with mild KOA is currently attracting attention. However, limited studies have been conducted solely on the observed differences in sagittal plane movement and muscle activation. AIM: This study aimed to identify three-dimensional biomechanical and muscle activation characteristics of the STS activity in patients with mild KOA. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to observe the differences between patients with mild KOA and a control group (CG). It was conducted to observe the differences in muscle activation, including root mean square (RMS%) and integrated electromyography (items), kinematic parameters like range of motion (ROM) and maximum angular velocity, as well as dynamic parameters such as joint moment and vertical ground reaction force (vGRF). RESULTS: Patients with mild KOA had a higher body mass index and longer task duration. In the sagittal plane, patients with KOA showed an increased ROM of the pelvic region, reduced ROM of the hip-knee-ankle joint, and diminished maximum angular velocity of the knee-ankle joint. Furthermore, patients with KOA displayed increased knee-ankle joint ROM in the coronal plane and decreased ankle joint ROM in the horizontal plane. Integrated vGRF was higher in both lower limbs, whereas the vGRF of the affected side was lower. Furthermore, patients showed a decreased peak adduction moment (PADM) and increased peak external rotation moment in the knee joint and smaller PADM and peak internal rotation moment in the ankle joint. The affected side exhibited decreased RMS% and iEMG values of the gluteus medius, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles, as well as a decreased RMS% of the rectus femoris muscle. Conversely, RMS% and iEMG values of the biceps femoris, lateral gastrocnemius, and medial gastrocnemius muscles were higher. CONCLUSION: The unbalanced activation characteristics of the anterior and posterior muscle groups, combined with changes in joint moment in the three-dimensional plane of the affected joint, may pose a potential risk of injury to the irritated articular cartilage.

[Different needling depth for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of different needling depth for benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were randomized into an elongated needle group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a filiform needle group (35 cases, 2 cases dropped off). Basic treatment combined with acupuncture were adopted in both groups, acupuncture was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Shuidao (ST 28), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Zhigou (TE 6). In the elongated needle group, acupuncture was performed at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Shuidao (ST 28) by elongated needle, the needling depth was 60-73 mm. In the filiform needle group, acupuncture was performed at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Shuidao (ST 28) by filiform needle, the needling depth was 25-30 mm. The treatment was given once a day (except Sunday), 2 weeks as one course, 1 course was required in both groups. Before and after treatment, the international prostate symptom score(IPSS), quality of life (QOL) score and prostate volume were observed in the two groups, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the IPSS and QOL scores after 1, 2-week treatment were reduced (P<0.01), and the IPSS and QOL scores after 2-week treatment were lower than those after 1-week treatment in the two groups (P<0.01); the IPSS and QOL scores after 2-week treatment in the elongated needle group were lower than the filiform needle group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After 2-week treatment, the prostate volume was reduced in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). The total effective rate was 91.2% (31/34) in the elongated needle group, which was superior to 72.7% (24/33) in the filiform needle group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both elongated needle and filiform needle can improve the symptom and quality of life in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and elongated needle has the better therapeutic effect.