Cruz-Montecinos C, Maas H, Cerda M, Pérez-Alenda S. Altered neural control of gait and its association with pain and joint impairment in adults with haemophilic arthropathy: Clinical and methodological implications.
Haemophilia 2022;
28:497-504. [PMID:
35201643 DOI:
10.1111/hae.14517]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
It is unknown whether altered neural control is associated with clinical outcomes in people with haemophilic arthropathy (PWHA). The dynamic motor control index during walking (Walk-DMC) is a summary metric of neural control.
AIMS
The primary aim of this study was to apply the Walk-DMC to assess if people diagnosed with haemophilic arthropathy have impaired neural control of gait and investigate the association of Walk-DMC with pain and joint impairment.
METHOD
The Walk-DMC was assessed using surface electromyography in 11 leg muscles. Twenty-two PWHA and 15 healthy subjects walked on a 30-m walkway at 1 m/s. In addition, pain (visual analogue scale), knee flexion contracture (degrees) and joint impairment (Haemophilia Joint Health Score, HJHS) were assessed. The clinical outcomes were correlated with the Walk-DMC. Multiple regression analysis was performed to predict the Walk-DMC using the clinical outcomes.
RESULTS
In 13 PWHA the Walk-DMC was beyond the normal range (80-120 pts). PWHA with an altered Walk-DMC showed more years with arthropathy, more pain, higher knee flexion contracture and a higher HJHS score (P < .05, effect size > .8). Significant negative moderate associations between Walk-DMC and pain, knee flexion contracture and HJHS were found (P < .05). The model that best predicted the Walk-DMC was the pain with knee flexion contracture (R2 = .44; P = .004).
CONCLUSIONS
PWHA with abnormal neural control of gait also has more years with arthropathy, more pain, and more impaired joints. Our results indicate an association between the Walk-DMC index and joint damage, specifically with pain in combination with knee flexion contracture.
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