The measurement of joint mechanics and their role in osteoarthritis genesis and progression.

Justifying and improving mechanically based approaches to the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis (OA) requires a critical understanding of the methods used to study joint mechanics and the current evidence for the role of mechanics in OA. The objectives of this article are (1) to summarize methods for assessing joint mechanics and their relative merits and limitations, (2) to describe the current evidence for the role of mechanics in OA initiation and progression, and (3) to describe some current treatment approaches that focus on modifying joint mechanics.