COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF UNSTABLE SURFACE TRAINING AND CONVENTIONAL EXERCISES ON BALANCE IN KNEE OSTEOARTHITIS

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage 
degradation, bone remodeling, and osteophyte formation. This causes pain, muscle 
weakness and impaired proprioception which leads to the poor balance and increase risk 
of fall. Conventional exercises improve muscle strength and reduce pain while unstable 
surface training enhances proprioception and joint stability. The objective was to analyze 
the comparative effect of unstable surface training and conventional exercises on balance 
in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The study was randomized clinical trial involving 32 
participants, aged between 45 to 60 years, who presented with unilateral or bilateral knee 
osteoarthritis and has been diagnosed with grade 2 knee OA according to Kellgren
Lawrence classification. Patients experiencing symptoms for more than six months was 
recruited. Participants was randomly assigned to two groups: Group A received unstable 
surface training, involving squats, sit-to- stand, forward lunges, step-ups, timed single-leg 
stance, and wall slides on wobble board. Group B received conventional exercises 
including isometric strengthening and stretching exercises for the hamstrings and 
quadriceps. Both interventions was administered thrice a week for four weeks. Balance 
was assessed using the Berg Balance scale (BBS). Assessments was conducted at 
baseline and post- intervention, after a four-week follow-up. Statistical analysis will be 
performed using SPSS version 26. Normality of data was checked and for within group 
comparison paired t-test was used and to compare both the groups independent t- test 
was used. Results showed that unstable surface training was found to be more efficient 
than conventional exercise program. The mean value of post BBS score of both groups 
was compared. Post BBS score of group A was 46.25 ±4.64 while post BBS score of group 
B was 38.37±4.57 with mean difference of 7.88 according to the study’s findings unstable 
surface training is more effective in term of increasing balance in patient with knee OA.