title: Evaluation of postural control and quality of life in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the balance in dynamic tasks and in the quality of life in elderly women with and without knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elderly women were divided into Group 1 (n = 12), consisting of participants with bilateral knee osteoarthritis (Kellgreen-Lawrence grade 1 and 2), and Group 2 (n = 12), consisting of controls. A force plate (EMG System do Brazil) was used to assess postural sway in dynamic tasks, whereas the quality of life was assessed by using the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Student's t-test showed no statistical difference during sitting down and standing up from the chair (p > 0.05). However, stair ascent revealed difference in displacement speed (p < 0.05), whereas stair descent showed differences in both displacement speed and amplitude (p < 0.05). In the questionnaire, Group 1 showed values lower than those in the control group regarding physical domain (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly women with knee osteoarthritis seemed to have more difficulty on stair descent task and had perception of worst physical domain. These findings were observed in OA group, even in the early stages of the disease, which shows the importance of even earlier interventions.
authors: Departamento de Biomecânica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Júlia Guimarães
authors: JG
authors: Reis
authors: Departamento de Biomecânica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Matheus Machado
authors: MM
authors: Gomes
authors: Departamento de Biomecânica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Thamires Máximo
authors: TM
authors: Neves
authors: Departamento de Biomecânica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Petrella
authors: Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Renê Donizeti Ribeiro
authors: RD
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Departamento de Biomecânica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Daniela Cristina Carvalho
authors: DC
authors: de Abreu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011788:Quality of Life