Applications of Ultrasound and Physical Parameters in Assessing Fall Risk in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Background

Falls represent a significant health issue for patients with knee osteoarthritis, potentially leading to hospitalization, disability, or even death. Early screening for fall risk in rehabilitation clinics is crucial; however, challenges arise due to time constraints and individual differences among patients. Sarcopenia, characterized by a reduction in muscle mass, is closely associated with an increased risk of falls, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) offers a non-invasive and effective tool for assessing muscle mass.

Methods

This prospective study involved 250 adults with knee osteoarthritis attending the orthopedic physical therapy outpatient department at National Taiwan University Hospital. POCUS technology was utilized to evaluate muscle mass, complemented by grip strength tests, lower limb strength assessments, self-reported fall risk questionnaires, sarcopenia assessments, get-up-and-go tests, thirty-second sit-to-stand tests, general nutrition screening for malnutrition, and bioimpedance analysis. A three-month follow-up study was conducted to monitor fall incidents.

Expected Results

During the three-month follow-up, it is anticipated that a certain proportion of participants will experience fall incidents. Significant correlations are expected to be identified between fall incidents and various measurements, including muscle mass assessed by POCUS, grip strength, lower limb strength, self-reported fall risk scores, sarcopenia assessments, get-up-and-go tests, thirty-second sit-to-stand tests, the geriatric nutritional risk index, and bioimpedance analysis. Differences between the fall group and the non-fall group on these variables will also be statistically significant, indicating that the combination of POCUS technology and other clinical assessment indicators enhances the predictive ability regarding fall risk in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Future Clinical Applications

The integration of POCUS technology with other clinical assessment indicators may be applied in rehabilitation outpatient settings to screen for fall risk in adults with knee osteoarthritis, facilitating early intervention and prevention. Future research will investigate the effectiveness of various intervention strategies.

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females aged 60 and above, who are willing to sign an informed consent form.
• Participants must have a clinically confirmed diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis.
• Participants must have received at least one treatment in the outpatient rehabilitation department during the study period.
• Participants must be able to walk independently, even with the aid of assistive devices.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who have undergone lower limb surgery or have significant lower limb deformities.
• Individuals with severe cognitive impairment who are unable to understand or comply with the study procedures.
• Individuals who cannot communicate in a language understandable by the research team.
• Individuals with severe comorbidities that affect assessment or treatment (e.g., unable to safely complete assessments or treatments).
• Individuals planning to undergo knee surgery during the study period.