Relationship of Low Back Pain and Knee Pain With Dynamic Balance of the Elderly Living in Nursing Homes in Mashhad, Iran

Balance disorder is an important risk factor in older people while walking. Knee pain (KP) and low back pain (LBP) are the most common disorders related to aging that disturb the balance of the elderly. This study aims to investigate the relationship between chronic LBP and chronic KP with dynamic balance in the elderly.

In this analytical cross-sectional study, 79 older adults aged ≥65 years living in a nursing home in Mashhad, Iran, were selected using the census method and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. In addition to measuring demographic information, fear of falling was assessed with the Persian version of the falls efficacy scale - international (FES-I), and the pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). To assess dynamic balance, the time up & go (TUG) test was used. Data analysis was done in SPSS software, version 23.

There was a significant difference among the three study groups of LBP, KP, and control in TUG score (P=0.050). With the increase in the FES-I score, the mean score TUG score increased significantly (P=0.01). With the increase of age, the mean score of TUG score increased significantly (P=0.006).

The elderly with chronic KP have poorer dynamic balance than the elderly with chronic LBP. Therefore, focusing on the prevention and treatment of knee injuries at younger ages can play an important role in preventing balance disorders in the elderly.