The Effect of Aquatic and Non-aquatic Balance Training on the Fall Risk of Patients With Grade ۲ and ۳ Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of balance exercises in the aquatic and Non-aquatic environments compared with control in patients with grade ۲ or ۳ knee Osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: For this single-blind, randomized control trial study, ۴۳ women with mild to moderate knee OA were recruited through a simple non-probability sampling method. They were randomly assigned to the aquatic balance exercise group (n=۱۵), Non-aquatic balance exercise group (n=۱۵), and a control group (n=۱۳). The intervention programs comprised aquatic and Non-aquatic balance training. Fall risk, the primary outcome, was measured by the Biodex balance system before and after the intervention. One-way ANOVA and paired sample t-test were used for analyzing data. Results: After ۴ weeks training, the Mean±SD fall risk score significantly decreased from ۳.۴۹±۱.۱۴ to ۲.۵۹±۱.۲۲ (P<۰.۰۰۱) in the aquatic balance training group, from ۳.۲۱±۰.۶۲ to ۲.۱۹±۰.۶۲ (P<۰.۰۰۱) in the Non-aquatic balance training group, and from ۳.۷۷±۱.۱۳ to ۳.۱۷±۱.۲۲ (P<۰.۰۰۱) in the control group. Regarding between-group comparisons, we found significant differences between the Non-aquatic balance training group and the control group (P=۰.۰۳). Discussion: Despite the environment, the balance exercise program significantly improved fall risk scores among patients with grade ۲ or ۳ knee osteoarthritis.

Keywords:

Fall risk , Knee osteoarthritis , Aquatic exercise , Balance