RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PAIN, STATIC AND DYNAMIC BALANCE, AND RANGE OF MOTION ACCORDING TO THE STAGES OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Authors : Muhlis Yiğitcan Dağ, Ahmet Ergün, Sevgi İkbali Afşar, Caner İncekaş

Pages : 40-50

Doi:10.52881/gsbdergi.1790901

View : 69 | Download : 61

Publication Date : 2025-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis worldwide, and the knee joint is the most frequently affected site. It is a chronic degenerative disease of weight-bearing joints characterized by cartilage destruction, osteophyte formation, and subchondral sclerosis. This study aimed to examine pain, range of motion (ROM), and balance parameters in individuals with early and advanced stage knee OA, to evaluate the relationships among these variables, and to compare differences between the groups. A total of 128 patients aged 40–65 years who were diagnosed with knee OA according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and classified using the Kellgren–Lawrence grading system were included. Patients were divided into early-stage (grades 1–2; mean age: 57.5±0.83 years; BMI: 30.8±0.53 kg/m²) and advanced-stage (grades 3–4; mean age: 59.05±0.74 years; BMI: 31.07±0.57 kg/m²) groups. Knee ROM was assessed by goniometric measurement, pain level at rest and during activity by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and static and dynamic balance by the Kinesthetic Ability Trainer 3000 (KAT3000). Significant differences were found between the early and advanced OA groups: the advanced OA group exhibited lower knee flexion angles, static balance scores, and dynamic balance scores, and higher pain severity (p<0.001). In early-stage patients, a weak positive correlation was found between resting VAS scores and static balance (p<0.05, r=0.252). In advanced stages, weak positive correlations were observed between resting VAS scores and static balance (p<0.05, r=0.360) and dynamic balance (p<0.05, r=0.363). The relationship between ROM and balance was weakly negative in early stages (static: r = -0.348, p = 0.005; dynamic: r = –0.337, p = 0.006) and moderately negative in advanced stages (static: r = -0.548, p < 0.001; dynamic: r = -0.652, p < 0.001). With increasing OA severity, ROM decreases, balance deteriorates, and pain intensity rises. These findings suggest that ROM and pain parameters may serve as predictors of balance impairments in knee OA.
Keywords : Diz osteoartriti, ağrı, denge, eklem hareket açıklığı, fonksiyonel değerlendirme

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