Effects of Therapeutic Exercises in Elderly Women With Knee Osteoarthritis

Assessment of the Effects of Therapeutic Exercises Associated With Pompage Technique on Pain, Muscle Strength and Postural Balance in Older Women With Knee Osteoarthritis: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Knee Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease associated with muscle weakness, arthralgia, rigidity and postural instability. Therapeutic exercise can reduce pain and improve muscle strength and postural balance, however benefits from association with pompage is not known. This study aims to evaluate the effects of therapeutic exercise on pain, muscle strength and postural balance in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis. Methodology: Almost randomized controlled trial, in which were included elderly between 60 and 80 years diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, randomized into two groups with 11 participants each. Intervention group held strengthening exercises for flexors and knee extensors, balance training, and manual knee pompage for 12 weeks. Control Group received educational lectures. Arthralgia was estimated by pain subscale of the questionnaire Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and (WOMAC); muscle strength was assessed by the isokinetic dynamometer HUMAC® NORM Testing & Rehabilitation System and the postural balance by the Biodex Balance SD postural stability protocol (Biodex Medical Systems, Inc. New York, USA). The Student t test was used for statistical analysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female
• Aged between 60 and 80 years
• Diagnosed with knee's osteoarthritis according to clinical and radiographic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cardiovascular and/or unstable respiratory diseases
• Knee or hip arthroplasty; in the last 6 months: surgery on lower limbs, intraarticular corticosteroid injection in the knee, physical therapy
• Associated diseases that contribute to the balance disorders (for example ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, neurological diseases, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy and vestibular).