Patient Simulation: Handrail Position for Knee-OA Patients Considering Physical Burden and Stability

Knee pain during motions remarkably reduces the quality of life in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. The use of handrails can help them relieve the pain when standing up from a chair. This study investigated which handrail position such as at the affected or non-affected sides is more effective in reducing the physical burden on the impaired knee, as well as providing a better stability during a sit-to-stand (STS) motion. Healthy individuals simulated the typical STS motion of knee OA patients for avoiding the ethical concerns regarding the pain that a patient may undergo during the experiment. Results obtained from the patient simulation under controlled conditions revealed that positioning a handrail at the affected side reduces knee burden and improves stability.