Age-related Decline in Proprioception

TLDR

Deterioration of proprioception may serve as a sensitive indicator of subclinical degenerative knee disease and a means to quantify proprioception in suspected neuropathic joints. The study measured knee joint‑position sense in 29 adults aged 20–82 using two common techniques: a threshold‑to‑detection of motion test and a passive‑position‑reproduction test. Both tests revealed a significant age‑related decline in proprioception (p < 0.001) and correlated with each other (p < 0.025), suggesting they assess the same biological parameter.

Abstract

Joint-position sense of the knee was measured in 29 subjects with normal knee joints ranging in age from 20 to 82 years. Joint-position sense was determined by two common techniques that measure the threshold to detection of motion and the ability to reproduce passive knee positioning. Joint-position sense was found to deteriorate with increasing age as measured by both tests, with a correlation coefficient that was significant at the p less than 0.001 level for each test. The two tests were found to correlate at the p less than 0.025 level, indicating that the same biologic parameter was being measured by both tests. Deterioration of proprioception, or joint-position sense, as measured may be a sensitive indicator of subclinical degenerative joint disease of the knee, as well as a means of quantitating proprioception in suspected neuropathic joints.