The purposes of this study are to find the relationship of position change and muscle torque of knee muscles in post-operative patients and to compare the muscle torque of the operative knee with it of the unaffected knee, Twenty-two post-operative knee patients participated in this study. They were tested with Cybex II dynamometer for maximum isometric strength of knee extensors and flexors. The tests were done at five hip positions - hip flexion 90°, 70°, 50°, supine and prone, paired with five knee positions - knee flexion 90°, 60°, 45°, 30°and0°. The subjects were divided into postarthrotomy group and post-arthroscopy group. Each group has three subgroups for the various post-operative periods (group 1: 1-4 weeks, group 2:5-26 weeks, group3: 27-104 weeks). The results showed that the unaffected knee extensor at more lengthening position could produce larger torque than it did at shortening position. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). A step-down tendency was also found in knee extensor torque at various knee positions from knee flexion 90° to 0°. This phenomenon was also shown in group of healthy subjects, but was altered in the affected side. In the first month post-surgery, changing of the positions does not influence the performance of muscle torque at all. There was no significant difference existed within the values of isometric muscle torque at all testing positions. The longer time after surgery the closer to the normal pattern of muscle torque produced in related to position change.
The purposes of this study are to find the relationship of position change and muscle torque of knee muscles in post-operative patients and to compare the muscle torque of the operative knee with it of the unaffected knee, Twenty-two post-operative knee patients participated in this study. They were tested with Cybex II dynamometer for maximum isometric strength of knee extensors and flexors. The tests were done at five hip positions - hip flexion 90°, 70°, 50°, supine and prone, paired with five knee positions - knee flexion 90°, 60°, 45°, 30°and0°. The subjects were divided into postarthrotomy group and post-arthroscopy group. Each group has three subgroups for the various post-operative periods (group 1: 1-4 weeks, group 2:5-26 weeks, group3: 27-104 weeks). The results showed that the unaffected knee extensor at more lengthening position could produce larger torque than it did at shortening position. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). A step-down tendency was also found in knee extensor torque at various knee positions from knee flexion 90° to 0°. This phenomenon was also shown in group of healthy subjects, but was altered in the affected side. In the first month post-surgery, changing of the positions does not influence the performance of muscle torque at all. There was no significant difference existed within the values of isometric muscle torque at all testing positions. The longer time after surgery the closer to the normal pattern of muscle torque produced in related to position change.