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

[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.