earticle

영어

This study aimed to compare the effects of trampoline exercise with those of balance pad exercise on balance, gait, and knee joint function in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis. Twenty elderly women with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into a trampoline exercise group (n=10) and a balance pad exercise group (n=10). Both groups performed their group-specific exercise thrice a week for six weeks. Data were obtained for the two groups with the one-leg stance test (OLST), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and all variables (pain, physical function, stiffness, and total) of the Korean version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (K-WOMAC) conducted before and after exercise. Data were analyzed using the paired t-test to compare changes in the variables after exercise for each group. An independent t-test was used for comparison between the groups. Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in OLST, TUG, 10MWT, and all variables of the K-WOMACK after exercise. There were statistically significant differences between the trampoline and balance pad exercise groups in stiffness and total variables of the K-WOMACK. There were no statistically significant differences between the trampoline and balance pad exercise groups in OLST, TUG, 10MWT, and pain and physical function variables of the K-WOMACK. The results indicate that trampoline and balance pad exercises are effective in promoting balance, gait, and knee joint function in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis. In particular, trampoline exercise was more effective than balance pad exercise for knee joint function.