Abstract: Objective: To explore the effect of Otago exercise programme on balance ability and Fear of Falling in elderly patients with knee arthroplasty. Methods: Sixty-five discharged elderly patients after knee replacement were included and divided into the observation group (33 cases) and the control group (32 cases) according to the time of admission. The routine functional exercise instruction and the flow Otago exercise programme were implemented in the control group and intervention group, respectively. The Berg balance scale, single item about falling fear and modified falls efficacy scale were used to evaluate the balance ability and fear of falling after the intervention, and the occurrence of falls in two groups was recorded. Results: The patients' balance ability and the fall efficacy in the intervention group were higher (P<0.01), and the rate of falling fear was lower than that in the control group (P<0.01) after 1 month of intervention. No fall occurred in both groups. Conclusion: Otago exercise programme can improve the balance ability and fall efficacy of elderly patients after knee arthroplasty, and reduce the incidence of falling fear and the risk of fall.

Key words: Otago exercise programme; knee arthroplasty; balance ability; Fear of Falling; falling; elderly patients