Abstract
Exercise is often used to manage knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, OA leads to balance impairments which may lead to injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of exercise on dynamic balance of individuals with unilateral knee OA. On one occasion, twenty participants with unilateral knee OA completed the star excursion balance test (SEBT) in all eight directions (anterior, anteromedial, medial, posteromedial, posterior, posterolateral, lateral, and anterolateral) on both affected and unaffected limbs, before and after a supervised exercise program. The exercise program consisted of 30 minutes of stretching and strengthening of the knee flexors and extensors. The SEBT was quantified as the composite score from all 8 directions. Participants also completed a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain before and after exercise. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant interaction nor difference between affected and unaffected sides for SEBT. There was significant improvement in SEBT composite score after exercise (7% and 5% post exercise for the affected and unaffected limbs respectively). VAS was not significantly different before and after exercise. These results suggest that a single bout of exercise improves acute dynamic balance performance in both affected and unaffected limbs in individuals with unilateral knee OA.
Highlights
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a non-inflammatory disorder of synovial joints that is characterized by loss of hyaline cartilage and remodeling of the surrounding bone [1]
This study used an experimental, repeated measures design evaluating the effects of a single session of exercise on dynamic balance by measuring the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) before and after an exercise session
We observed a significant increase in balance performance after the exercise session on both the affected and unaffected leg, which is consistent with our hypothesis
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a non-inflammatory disorder of synovial joints that is characterized by loss of hyaline cartilage and remodeling of the surrounding bone [1]. Knee OA results in significant pain, decreased quadriceps muscle strength, and impaired postural control and joint proprioception [3]. Individuals suffering from knee OA experience a progressive loss of function due to their symptoms [4]. These symptoms can lead to balance impairments in individuals with OA compared to controls [5]. Exercise is an important component in managing OA, irrespective of severity, because it reduces pain and improves function [1]. Exercise programs have been shown to improve balance when evaluated long term [7, 8]. There is a lack of research evaluating the acute effects of exercise in this population
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