Assessment of Balance Impairments in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Background and aim: Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems, can affect on patients daily activity and produce dependency in their daily activity and functional disability; The aim of present study is to compare static balance in patients with knee osteoarthritis and healthy subjects using force plate. Materials & Methods: Postural stability in knee OA patients and healthy subjects (each group 20 subjects) were measured by force plate. Two positions were selected double stance with closed or opened eyes. Range of fore/aft (Rfa) and Range of side ways (Rsw), were measured as static postural stability. Results: Rsw increased significantly in the double stance position in patients group (P<0.05). Also in both groups, Rsw and Rfa in the double stance with closed eyes were more than of open eyes position (P<0.05). Conclusion: Postural control deficits and increase of center of pressures sway were identified in participants with knee osteoarthritis. Therefore, one of the most important goals of rehabilitation is to improve balance control in knee OA patients.