Balance Affection in Elderly People with Osteoarthritis of Knee and Low Back Pain Arora Anu, Associate Professor, Teli Akshata, Physiotherapy Intern Department of Physiotherapy, Pad Dr DY Patil University, Nerul Online published on 19 June, 2015. Abstract Age related decline in balance is a common problem seen in geriatric age group which is further compounded by the presence of degenerative conditions like Osteoarthritis of knee and low back pain. Hence the aim of this research was is to study and compare affection of balance in elderly population with Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Low back pain. Static balance was assessed by unilateral stance on firm surface, limit of stability (LOS) tests(Balance Master System) and dynamic balance were assessed by time get up and go test. Result Assessment of static balance in patients with knee OA(8.835)and low back pain (8.7) showed that subjects with osteoarthritis knee had statically significant greater sway as compare low back pain subject and control group(2.185). However these differences were not statistically significant.(p>0.05). similar findings were seen in directional control, movement velocity, end point excursion, Maximum excursion and reaction time. Assessment of dynamic balance in subjects with osteoarthritis knee showed TGUP of 15.1 sec as compared to 13.7 seconds in subjects with low back pain (13.700sec) with level of significance lesser than 0.05 (p<0.05). Conclusion Statistical analysis of the data collected in the study implies that there is reduction in static as well as dynamic balance in elderly subjects with OA Knees as well as those with LBP as compared to normals. However, on comparing elderly subjects with OA Knees with those with LBP, we found that there was, no statistically significant difference in the two groups with respect to Static Balance but the elderly subjects with OA knees had lesser dynamic stability as compared to those with LBP. Top Keywords Balance, Elderly, Low Back Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee. Top |