Investigating the impact of balance exercises on balance indices in knee osteoarthritis patients Download PDF

Objective and Background: Osteoarthritis is a chronic and degenerative joint disease. This musculoskeletal disease is associated with imbalance. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of balance exercise on balance indices in knee osteoarthritis patients. Methodology: 30 knee osteoarthritis patients were selected using simple and convenient sampling method in this one-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, and they were randomly assigned to balance exercises and control groups. The treatment program in the balance exercises group included balance exercises, and it included ultrasound, TENS(Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) and hot pack in the control group. Overall, anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral stability indices were measured by using Biodex balance system in static and dynamic states with open and closed eyes on one and two legs before and after treatment. Treatment was performed for both groups for 3 weeks and 5 times per week. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon statistical tests were used to analyze the data Results: In the static state, the overall and anterior-posterior indices on two leg in the open eyes were reduced from 0.74 ± 0.42 to 0.52 ± 0.17 (P = 0.02) and from 0.57 ± 0.39 to 0.36 ± 0.12 (P = 0.04), respectively, in the balance exercise group. In the static state, the overall stability index on two legs in open and closed eyes was reduced from 1.16 ± 0.82 to 0.74 ± 0.46 (P = 0.04) and from 3.13 ± 1.74 to 2.20 ± 1.02 (P = 0.01), respectively, in the control group. No significant difference was found between the two groups except for the anterior-posterior stability index in the dynamic state on the involved leg in closed eyes (P <0.05). Conclusion: Inter-group comparison revealed a significant difference between balance exercises group and control group in terms of impact on the anterior-posterior stability index in dynamic state on the involved leg in closed eyes. In intra-group comparison, balance exercises improved the number of balance indices compared to the control group both in static and dynamic states.