Background and aims: Muscle weakness is a common problem in older adults with knee osteoarthritis and can contribute to reduced knee stability and increased pain. This study investigated the effects of BodyBalance exercise on pain, knee instability, and hip and knee muscle strength in older women with knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: This quasi-experimental, pretest–posttest study included experimental and control groups. Forty older women with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. The experimental group attended 60-minute BodyBalance training sessions three times weekly for 12 weeks, while the control group continued their usual daily activities. Pain, knee instability, and muscle strength were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 6-point self-reported instability scale, and a handheld dynamometer, respectively. Data were analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired t-tests.
Results: BodyBalance training produced significant increases in hip and knee muscle strength and significant reductions in pain and knee instability (p<0.001). Improvements in the experimental group were significantly greater than those observed in the control group.
Conclusion: BodyBalance exercises are effective, noninvasive interventions for improving knee stability, reducing pain, and enhancing lower-extremity muscle strength in older adults with knee osteoarthritis, and may help maintain physical function and prevent disability.