Assessment of Risk of Falls in Elderly Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Low Back Pain

Abstract

This study aimed identify which groups of elderly are at higher risk of falls, with osteoarthritis (OA), low back pain or both conditions. 29 elderly were distributed in three groups: OA of the Knee (OAK), Low Back Pain (LBP) and the two events concomitantly (OL). Evaluation tools applied were: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Roland Morris Functional Performance Questionnaire, Gait Speed (GS), Timed Get Up and Go Test (TGUGT) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). No differences were found in the three groups for assessment by GS, TGUGT and BBS instruments. A significative difference was found by RMQ in groups LPB and OL, WOMAC found difference in pain domain between groups OL and OAK and VAS analysis showed significative difference between group OL to the others groups. No significative difference was found between groups by the assessment of balance.