Paper Title
The Effects Of Exercise Therapy In Preventing Falls Through Improving Balance In Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract
Objective and Background: Osteoarthritis is a chronic and degenerative joint disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise therapy in preventing falls through improving balance in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methodology: 30 knee osteoarthritis patients participated in this one-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to balance exercises and strengthening exercises. The treatment program in the balance exercises group and strengthening exercises group included balance exercises and strengthening exercises, respectively.Stability indices were measured by Bio dex in static and dynamic states with open and closed eyes on one and two legs before and after treatment. Treatment was performed for both groups for 3 weeks and 5 times per week. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon statistical tests were used to analyze the data. Results: In the static state, the overall and anterior-posterior indices on two leg in the open eyes were reduced from 0.74 ± 0.42 to 0.52 ± 0.17 (P = 0.02) and from 0.57 ± 0.39 to 0.36 ± 0.12 (P = 0.04), respectively, in the balance exercise group. In the static state, the overall stability index on two legs in open and closed eyes was reduced from 1.16 ± 0.82 to 0.74 ± 0.46 (P = 0.04) and from 3.13 ± 1.74 to 2.20 ± 1.02 (P = 0.01), respectively, in the strengthening exercises group. No significant difference was found between two groups except for the anterior-posterior stability index in the dynamic state on the involved leg in closed eyes (P <0.05). Conclusion: Inter-group comparison revealed a significant difference between two groups in terms of impact on the anterior-posterior stability index in dynamic state on the involved leg in closed eyes. Keywords - Balance Exercises, Osteoarthritis, Balance.