Effects of a Targeted Exercise Program on Pain, Balance, Proprioception, and Function in Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with pain and reduced functional performance, increasing fall risk in older adults. While conventional physiotherapy is widely used, limited evidence exists regarding the added value of exercise programs on proprioception and balance outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a structured four-week exercise program, in combination with conventional physiotherapy, on function, pain, proprioception, and balance in adults with knee OA. Thirty participants (aged 50–65 years) with clinically diagnosed knee OA were randomly assigned to either an experimental group ( n = 15), which received conventional physiotherapy (including electrotherapy, manual therapy, and therapeutic modalities) combined with structured exercise, or a control group ( n = 15), which received conventional physiotherapy alone. Outcome measures included knee function, pain, proprioception, and static balance. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Both groups showed significant pre-to post-test improvements across all outcomes ( p < .05). However, the experimental group achieved markedly greater gains in proprioception (−33.85% and −36.04% at 30° and 60°, respectively), static balance (+25.13% eyes-open, +42.25% eyes-closed), and functional reach (+10.87%) compared with the control group. Pain reduction was also greater in the experimental group (−28.02% vs. −19.37%). Improvements in knee function were observed in both groups, with no significant group-by-time interaction. Integrating a targeted exercise program with physiotherapy leads to superior improvements in sensorimotor and functional outcomes in individuals with knee OA. These findings support non-pharmacological strategies to enhance mobility and reduce fall risk in this population.