Evaluation Factors Affecting on Falling of Elderly Women With Knee Arthritis Following Tai Chi ‎Exercises and Glucosamine

Background Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems in older women.  Objective The purpose of study is to evaluate certain physical fitness factors affecting on falling of elderly women with knee osteoarthritis following Tai Chi exercise and glucosamine supplementation. Methods 90 elderly women with knee osteoarthritis were chosen randomly from Qazvin city in 2016, whose arthritis were homogeneous with the Kellgren and Lawrence scale. A semi-experimental study with the code of 1N20180314039092IRCT was conducted, with the pretest-posttest design. Participants were randomly assigned into three groups. The 1st experimental group performed three times a week Tai Chi for three months, the 2nd experimental group consumed glucosamine supplement three times a week. The control group received no special intervention. Findings T-test showed only Tai Chi exercise significantly improved the dynamic balance, lower limb strength, and flexibility, before and after intervention (P=0.001). The differences between three groups, by using Multivariate analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test, the only difference between exercise and control groups was statistically significant in dynamic balance (P=0.001; F=12.19), lower limb strength (P=0.006; F=5.65) and flexibility (P=0.04; F=3.45).  Conclusion Tai Chi exercise significantly decreased postural sway and improved physical fitness in elderly woman with knee osteoarthritis.