Evaluation of posture in individuals with knee osteoarthritis and investigation of the relationship between posture and balance

OA of the knee is a degenerative chronic joint disease that causes joint and muscle dysfunction, impaired postural stability and impaired proprioception. In this study, we aimed to evaluate postural dysfunction, quadriceps, hamstring muscle weakness and loss of proprioception in individuals with knee OA and to examine the effects of the detected pathological parameters on pain, quality of life, functional status, balance and falls. Forty-five individuals with knee OA class 3 and 4 according to Kellgren Lawrence staging were accepted as OA group and 45 healthy individuals without knee symptoms were accepted as control group. In both groups, knee extension limitation, Visual Analog Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, Standing on One Leg Test, Functional Reach Test, knee extensor and flexor muscle strength and proprioception values of the patients with CSMI Humac Norm Cybex isokinetic device, spinopelvic parameters in the current lateral scoliosis radiographs of the individuals with Surgimap v2.3.2.1 program were evaluated. As a result of our study, no difference was found in posture parameters between the two groups. The relationship between knee flexor contracture and decreased lumbar lordosis has been shown. It has been reported that global sagittal balance may be impaired with impaired lumbopelvic alignment. It has been shown that knee flexion contracture, high fall anxiety, loss of proprioception and knee pain are associated with fall risk. Proprioceptive sensory deficit has been shown in the OA group compared to the control group. It was found that advanced knee OA caused impairment in static and dynamic balance, but this effect was not correlated with disease severity. Loss of muscle strength has been found in advanced knee OA and correlated with postural stability and knee pain. The limitation of our study is that there were not enough individuals with stage 4 OA compared to stage 3 in our study and that we considered the available data with radiographic OA severity. Our study showed that knee OA impairs postural stability and increases the risk of falls. In these individuals, especially gluteus medius and knee flexor and extensor muscle groups should be strengthened, and effective treatment should be given for knee pain associated with fall risk. Keywords: Balance, Strength, Osteoarthritis, Posture, Proprioception