Does gender make a difference in knee rotation proprioception and range of motion in healthy subjects?

Abstract

Knee proprioception is an integral component of neuromuscular control system that stabilizes the joints, reducing incidence of injury. Knee injuries' incidences differ between genders. Knee rotation is a component of different knee injury mechanisms. Gender differences in knee proprioception in internal (IR) and external (ER) rotations are not sufficiently studied. To check whether proprioceptive acuity in IR and ER directions of knee rotation is inherently lower in women compared to men. Moreover, to assess gender difference in ranges of knee rotation. Thirty volunteers (15 women and 15 men) participated. Knee proprioception acuity and ranges of knee rotation were assessed using the knee rotatory kinesthetic device (KRKD). Proprioception was tested using absolute judgment task, subject's ability to discriminate different rotation movements (stimuli) randomly presented, then just notable difference (JND) was calculated; least difference accurately discriminated in 75% of trials. Women had lower proprioception acuity in IR than men (1.70∘± 0.79∘ and 1.12∘± 0.32∘, p= 0.011) respectively. Active IR (women: 41.29∘± 7.46∘, men 32.80∘± 3.64∘, p= 0.000), and passive IR (women: 53.43∘±11.67∘, men: 37.94∘± 5.22∘, p= 0.000) were higher in women compared to men. Active ER (women: 49.71∘± 11.37∘, men: 39.16∘± 5.46∘, p= 0.003), and passive ER (women: 62.29∘± 13.74∘, men: 48.89∘± 7.09∘, p= 0.002) were, also, higher in women. Gender difference in knee proprioception acuity was found in IR, which is the direction of rotation that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stabilize. Women's ranges of knee rotation are greater than men in both IR and ER.