Detection of Non-Traumatic Knee Effusion among Asymptomatic Individual with Different type of Lifestyle and Selected Sociodemographic Factors Using Fluid Shift Test and Ultrasonography

Background history: Non-traumatic knee effusion might be the result of overuse leading to wear and tear processes or systemic diseases. Knee effusion-synovitis was a predictive of some structural abnormalities in the joint suggesting a potential role in early osteoarthritis changes. It is postulated that the active life style with prolonged standing hours predisposed for the increase prevalence of non-traumatic knee effusion even in the young age.Method: Final year medical students and clerical office staffs from Royal college of Medicine Perak were randomly selected. Those who had some kind of physical activities (walking, jogging or any kind of sports) for more than half an hour a day at least three times per week among the students and the clerical office staffs were included in active life style group and the remaining were listed in sedentary life style group. All were assessed for knee effusion by two orthopaedic surgeons clinically and then assessed by ultrasound examination on the same day. All were less than 30 years of age.Results: Data from 46 staffs and 53 students (total 99) were analysed. Number of participants in active life style group was 72 and that in sedentary life style groups was 27. Among the 99 participants, 53 (53.53%) had positive fluid shift test and 46 (46.5%) had effusion on ultrasound examination. The respondents who practice active lifestyle and respondents with BMI more than 25 had more prevalence than non-active respondents and respondents with BMI less than 25 respectively.Conclusion: The persons with active life style had more chance of having knee effusion. The five-point scale method of fluid shift test or stroke test is a reliable test for detection of small amounts of fluid in knee.