Arthritis care & research
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Arthritis care & research · Sep 2014
Association of thigh muscle strength with knee symptoms and radiographic disease stage of osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.
To determine whether thigh muscle strength differs between symptomatic and asymptomatic knees, and/or different radiographic strata of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). ⋯ Knee symptoms (i.e., pain) appear to be the relevant determinant of isometric knee extensor and flexor strength in KOA, whereas no direct association between strength and radiographic severity was observed. These findings suggest that the reduction in thigh muscle strength in KOA is related to pain but not to the structural (radiographic) disease status.
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Arthritis care & research · Sep 2014
Multicenter StudyWork productivity loss in early arthritis during the first 3 years of disease: a study from a French National Multicenter Cohort.
To assess work productivity (WP) loss during the first 3 years of disease in a cohort of patients with early arthritis (EA) diagnosed between 2002 and 2005. ⋯ WP loss is substantial in EA patients and is due to permanent disability before the third year of disease. Work absence and poor mental and physical health status at baseline are major determinants of WP costs.