Evaluation of Postural Control and Quality of Life in Elderly Women with Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective: To assess the balance in dynamic tasks and in the quality of life in elderly women with and without knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Elderly women were divided into Group 1 (n = 12), consisting of participants with bilateral knee osteoarthritis (Kellgreen-Lawrence grade 1 and 2), and Group 2 (n = 12), consisting of controls. A force plate (EMG System do Brazil) was used to assess postural sway in dynamic tasks, whereas the quality of life was assessed by using the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire.

Results: Student's t-test showed no statistical difference during sitting down and standing up from the chair (p > 0.05). However, stair ascent revealed difference in displacement speed (p < 0.05), whereas stair descent showed differences in both displacement speed and amplitude (p < 0.05). In the questionnaire, Group 1 showed values lower than those in the control group regarding physical domain (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Elderly women with knee osteoarthritis seemed to have more difficulty on stair descent task and had perception of worst physical domain. These findings were observed in OA group, even in the early stages of the disease, which shows the importance of even earlier interventions.