Abstract

Context: Knee pain is experienced by many people. Because of this, authors have started researching the effects of pain on lower extremity mechanics and also on static and dynamic postural control. However, the effects of pain are difficult to study due to associated confounding variables. Objective: We asked: (1) Will experimentally-induced anterior knee pain alter perceived pain using the visual analogue scale? ; (2) will perceived pain affect postural control as measured by center-of-pressure during static and dynamic movement? Design: Crossover. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Fifteen healthy subjects. Intervention: Each subject participated in single leg quiet stance, landing, and walking trials under three conditions (pain, sham, control), at three different times for each condition (pre-injection, injection, and post-injection). Main Outcome Measures: The dependent variables were measured at pre-injection, injection, and post-injection. Pain was measured using the visual analogue scale across all three times during each condition. Center-of-pressure sway was measured during single leg quiet stance to calculate the average center-of-pressure velocity in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. The center-of-pressure time to stabilization was measured in anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and vertical directions, and center-of-pressure trajectory excursion was measured in the medial-lateral direction during walking. Results: Perceived pain was significant (P < 0.05) but did not affect postural control as measured by center-of-pressure medial-lateral and anterior-posterior sway during single leg quiet stance, in time to stabilization during landing, and in medial-lateral excursion during walking. Conclusions: Injection of hypertonic saline resulted in statistically significant perceived pain but did not affect postural control as measured by center-of-pressure medial-lateral and anterior-posterior sway during single leg quiet stance, in time to stabilization during landing, and medial-lateral excursion during walking.

Degree

College and Department

Life Sciences; Exercise Sciences

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