Knee osteoarthritis (O.A. from now on) is associated to muscular weakness of inferior limbs, especially the quadriceps; leading to disease progression. Advantages of muscular strength training for the treatment of this kind of O.A. is now well established. In this therapeutic field, isokinetic exercises seem to have a better efficiency than other, more frequently used, kinds of exercises such as isometric or isotonic exercises.~Functional impairment caused by knee O.A. is mainly affecting walking. Walking induces muscles to work in eccentric mode.~The hypothesis of this study is that muscular strengthening using isokinetic exercises in eccentric mode would have a more important benefit than isokinetic exercises in concentric mode. Such an hypothesis, if verified, could lead to a better management of rehabilitative knee exercises in the treatment of knee O.A.
Knee osteoarthritis (O.A. from now on) is associated to muscular weakness of inferior limbs, especially the quadriceps; leading to disease progression. Advantages of muscular strength training for the treatment of this kind of O.A. is now well established. In this therapeutic field, isokinetic exercises seem to have a better efficiency than other, more frequently used, kinds of exercises such as isometric or isotonic exercises.~Functional impairment caused by knee O.A. is mainly affecting walking. Walking induces muscles to work in eccentric mode.~The hypothesis of this study is that muscular strengthening using isokinetic exercises in eccentric mode would have a more important benefit than isokinetic exercises in concentric mode. Such an hypothesis, if verified, could lead to a better management of rehabilitative knee exercises in the treatment of knee O.A.