Bone mineral density, fracture risk and postural control in elderly osteoartritis of the knee

• Grant number: 17/07038-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2017
• End date: June 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Stela Márcia Mattiello
• Grantee: Larissa Gabriele Soto
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee represents one of the risk factors for falls occurring in the elderly. In a fall, individuals with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) have a high risk of fractures. Thus, investigation of BMD decrease, risk of falls, postural control and fracture probability among individuals with knee OA would contribute to the targeting of interventions and orientations of this population. Objectives: This study aims to compare the elderly with and without knee OA in relation to BMD, history of falls, fracture risk and postural control. It is hypothesized that individuals with knee OA will have lower BMD, associated with an increased risk of falls and fracture in the next 10 years. METHODS: Twenty volunteers, aged 60 years, of both sexes, in two groups, will participate in this study: Group with OA of the knee (GOA, n = 10), in which the elderly will be included with diagnosis of tibiofemural OA grades II or III (Kellgren & Lawrence criteria) and Group without OA of the knee (GC, n = 10), composed of elderly without OA of the knees. All volunteers will respond to the WOMAC, Falls Efficacy Scale (FES-I-Brazil), modified Baecke questionnaires for the elderly and will be questioned about the history of falls in the last 12 months. Participants will perform stabilometry evaluation (electronic baropodometer -FootWork Pro®, AM CUBE, France) in postures: bipodal with open eyes, bipodal with closed eyes, semitanden with open eyes and semitanden closed eyes. They will also perform the BMD assessment test (DXA, Hologic Discovery A, Bendford, MA) and evaluation of the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX®) for the next 10 years. GC x GOA) will be applied t-test for each of the dependent variables (BMD, anteroposterior and mid-lateral displacement amplitudes of the pressure center, fear of falling, history of falls, probability of fracture occurrence (%), Pain scores, rigidity and physical function, and level of physical activity). A significance level of 0.05 (pd0.05) will be adopted for all analyzes. (AU)