Effects of increased standing balance on pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between standing balance increased through muscle-strengthening exercises and pain in knee osteoarthritis patients. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty knee osteoarthritis patients were equally divided into a strengthening exercise group and an unstable exercise group. Before and after the six-week experiment, the visual analogue scale was measured, and bilateral one-leg standing tests were performed. [Results] In both the strengthening exercise group and unstable exercise group, the bilateral one-leg standing time significantly increased after the six-week experiment. Regarding the visual analogue scale, a pain measurement scale, the strengthening exercise group had significantly decreased pain. The unstable exercise group also had decreased pain, but the decrease was not statistically significant. [Conclusion] In knee osteoarthritis patients, exercises using an unstable base of support and knee-extensor strengthening exercises with gradually increased loads had a positive effect on improving balance ability and decreasing pain.

The Effect of Strengthening and Balance Exercises on Static Stability Indices in Women With Knee Osteoarthritis; A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Kyung Kim et al reported in 2016 that patients were assigned to two groups, i.e. muscle strength training and strengthening-balance exercises [29]. The results were in accordance with the results of our study in that a significant improvement was not reported between the two groups, but an increase in postural stability and a reduction in pain intensity was reported in both of the groups [29].…”

“…The results indicated that both of the exercise groups stimulated the proprioception, which was effective in knee stability elevation. Moreover, the increase in stability brought about a reduction in the related knee pain [29]. Holden et al found no improvement in the balance of the patients with knee osteoarthritis that can be following treatment method of study [30].…”

Relationship between atherosclerosis and knee osteoarthritis as graded by radiography and ultrasonography in females

“…However, variability in knee positioning can lead to variations in these estimates36 ) . Another major limitation of measuring the joint space width is that clinicians can only measure the sum of the two opposing cartilage layers and cannot measure the individual cartilage layer thicknesses37, 38 ) .…”

Efficacy of Neuromuscular Training on Pain, Balance and Function in Patients with Grade I and II Knee Osteoarthritis

“…On between group comparisons there were similar improvements in pain, knee range of motion and knee and hip muscle strength and balance parameters in both groups, with the exception of higher improvements in 6/10 balance parameters in experimental group .The probable reasons for improvement in pain, range of motion and strength in both the groups are discussed earlier. The greater improvement seen in modified CTSIB, limit of stability, unilateral stance and rhythmic weight shifts in experimental group which was given neuromuscular training could be the effect of improved knee proprioception and knee stability through neuromuscular training(KBA)(Mathews W. ,Demirhan D et al,2005 as studies have shown that KBA techniques improves dynamic joint stability using a series of physical activities such as agility and balance exercises to activate, challenge, and adapt the nervous system's proprioceptors to maintain balance and to improve activities of daily living function(Mathews W. .Exercises using an unstable base of support had a positive effect on improving balance ability and decreasing pain (Kyung Kim et al,2016) Also it could be the effect of repetitions of task aimed at improving motor control at knee joint. The ultimate goal of proprioceptive training is to improve or restore sensory and/or sensorimotor function.…”