Background: The Early Osteoarthritis Questionnaire (EOAQ) emerges as a tool for assessing knee osteoarthritis (OA) at its initial stages, offering a potential avenue for early detection and intervention. However, it remains unclear whether the EOAQ accurately reflects biomechanical changes in individuals at risk for knee OA. Purpose: To determine whether EOAQ can reflect the biomechanical characteristics that appear during functional movements in individuals at risk for early knee OA. Study design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Forty-three manufacturing workers aged 40 to 70 years participated in this study and a total 86 legs were recruited. Through the EOAQ, the subjects were divided into an experimental group with a risk of early OA and a control group. There were 42 legs in the experimental group and 44 legs in the control group. Subjects performed the 4 functional movements: one leg standing (OLS), sit to stand (STS), stair up (SU) and down (SD). During functional movements, horizontal displacement of pelvis (PHD), knee (KHD), and ankle (AHD) were video-recorded and analyzed using Kinovea software. Independent t-test was used to compare the characteristics between groups. Results: The experimental group showed greater PHD, KHD, and AHD during 4 functional movements (OLS, STS, SU, and SD) than the control group (p<0.05), except for AHD during STS. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that EOAQ effectively reflects lateral horizontal displacement, a biomechanical characteristic of knee OA. The use of the EOAQ to diagnose and prevent early knee OA is recommended.
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