DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i07.025

Pages: 2621-2624

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, progressive musculoskeletal disorder characterized by gradual loss of articular cartilage. Fear of fall and balance impairment in people with osteoarthritis of knee joint is a major cause of loss of independence, which has an effect on quality of life. The aim of this study was to find a correlation between balance, fear of fall and quality of life in knee osteoarthritis patients. 65 subjects of age group 45-60 years, diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis on the basis of American college of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria were recruited. Balance was assessed by berg balance scale (BBS), fear of fall was assessed by the modified fall efficacy scale (MFES) and the quality of life was assessed by the SF-36 Questionnaire. The study showed a positive correlation between fear of fall and balance. It demonstrated a positive correlation between balance, fear of fall and physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of quality of life. Hence, balance training and strategies to prevent fall should be included in rehabilitation protocol of OA knee patients for a holistic and multimodal approach.