AGE PECULIARITIES OF KNEE FUNCTIONALITY AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN ELDERLY WOMEN

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study is to learn the effect of the age on degenerative knee joint disease and physical capability of elderly women. Materials and methods. Three groups of relatively healthy elderly women (G1 – 60–64 years (n = 34), G2 – 65–69 years (n = 31) and G3 – 70–74 years (n = 18)) participated in the study. The functional status of the knee joint (pain, limitation of motion, physical functionality) was estimated with the help of WOMAC index. Physical performance in women was studied with the help of three functional tests. Pain in the knee joint before and after the tests was assessed with the help of the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Statistical data were processed with the help of Statistica 10 and IBM SPSS22. Results. Pain and stiffness in the knee joint in elderly women increased significantly with age while physical functionality decreased (p < 0.01). Correlations were established between “age/pain” – (r = 0.581), “age/stiffness” – (r = 0.565) and “age/physical functionality” – (r = 0.666) indices, p < 0.01. Authentic changes of the pain index were revealed in the knee joint during physical activity. Correlation analysis showed a clearly defined dependence between the level of physical capability in women and their age. Conclusion. The data obtained prove that the age of elderly women is one of the main factors influencing their functional capability. The age also is one of the factors influencing the progression of functional and degenerative disorders in the knee joint.