Comparing Whole-Body Vibration vs. Balance Board Exercise for Pain, Function, and Quality of Life in Obese Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease commonly found in the knee. Therapeutic exercise has been known as the most common therapy to treat OA, however, therapy only focuses on reducing symptoms, not on treatment of the disease which help reduce cost and improve long term quality of life. Objective: This randomized controlled trial aim was to compare the effectiveness of Stochastic Resonance Therapy-Whole Body Vibration (SRT-WBV) vs. Balance Board (BB) training on knee pain, knee function and quality of life in obese patients with osteoarthritis. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Forty-four subjects diagnosed with Grade I-II Osteoarthritis Kellgren Lawrence and Grade I obesity were included, randomized to two treatment groups, the SRT-WBV (n=22) or BB (n=22) to complete a series of exercises over eight weeks. Evaluation using the following clinical outcomes: Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Single leg stance (SLS) test, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Short Form 12 Health Survey Questions (SF-12).