Comparative Analysis of Proprioceptive Exercises versus Conventional Physical Therapy Interventions on Balance among patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has often been linked to the deficiency of proprioception and balance impairment, which results in a functional limitation and the risk of falls. Proprioceptive exercise can possibly have better neuromuscular effects than conventional Physical Therapy Objective: This research aimed to compare the effects of proprioceptive exercises and traditional Physical Therapy on the balance among patients with KOA. Methods: It was a randomized controlled trial involving 40 subjects who had KOA (KL grades 23). The participants were randomly distributed in Proprioceptive Exercise Group (PEG; n=20), and Control Group (CG; n=20). These two groups were subjected to pulsed ultrasound treatment and then was subjected to structured proprioceptive exercises (PEG) or conventional Physical Therapy (CG) in a period of 10 weeks. The Berg balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure balance at Baseline, Week 4, Week 8 and Week 10. Repeated-measures ANOVA was carried out, as well as post-hoc tests. Results: Both groups had a similar baseline score, but the PEG showed significantly better improvements in balance at all follow up periods. Week 4 (PEG), Week 8 (PEG) and Week 10 (PEG) all showed a favorable mean difference (PEG). The significance of the overall between-group effect was high ( -0.56; 95% CI: -0.72 -0.40; p<0.001), and the interaction effect is large (F(1,38)=132.98; η²=0.823). The balance trend graph depicted sharper trend of improvement in PEG. Conclusion: Proprioceptive training resulted in much larger enhancement of balance in comparison to standard Physical Therapy, which is why they should be incorporated into the rehabilitation of KOA.