Effects of a Targeted Exercise Program on Pain, Balance, Proprioception, and Function in Adults With Knee...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and functional decline in older adults, increasing fall risk.
• Conventional physiotherapy is standard care, but its impact on proprioception and balance in knee OA requires further investigation.
• Limited evidence exists on the added benefits of exercise programs combined with physiotherapy for knee OA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of a four-week structured exercise program combined with conventional physiotherapy on knee OA outcomes.
• To assess improvements in knee function, pain, proprioception, and static balance in adults with knee OA.

Main Methods:

• Thirty participants (50-65 years) with knee OA were randomized into two groups: experimental (physiotherapy + structured exercise) and control (physiotherapy alone).
• Outcome measures included knee function, pain, proprioception (at 30° and 60°), and static balance (eyes-open and eyes-closed).
• Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, comparing pre- and post-intervention results.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant improvements in all measured outcomes (p < .05).
• The experimental group demonstrated superior gains in proprioception (-33.85% at 30°, -36.04% at 60°), static balance (+25.13% eyes-open, +42.25% eyes-closed), and functional reach (+10.87%).
• Greater pain reduction was observed in the experimental group (-28.02%) compared to the control group (-19.37%).

Conclusions:

• Integrating a targeted exercise program with conventional physiotherapy significantly enhances sensorimotor and functional outcomes in knee OA patients.
• This combined approach leads to superior improvements in proprioception, balance, and pain reduction compared to physiotherapy alone.
• Findings support exercise as a crucial non-pharmacological strategy to improve mobility and mitigate fall risk in individuals with knee OA.