INTRODUCTION: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) affects mainly elderly, being characterized by arthralgia, stiffness and strength and balance deficits. Scientific evidence suggests beneficial effects of exercise therapy on these changes, but lacks detailed protocols. In addition, there were published studies on effects of therapeutic exercise associated with pompage that were not located. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a therapeutic exercise program associated with pompage on pain, balance and muscle strength in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A randomized pilot clinical trial that included 22 women (60 to 80 years) diagnosed with knee OA, randomized and allocated by simple raffle into two groups: intervention and control. Intervention group (strengthening and balance exercises and knee pompage) performed two sessions per week for 12 weeks. The control group received educational lectures, they were evaluated before and after 12 weeks: arthralgia -- subscale pain of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire (WOMAC); postural stability -- postural balance protocol by Biodex Balance SD and muscle strength -- concentric peak torque of the knee extensor by isokinetic dynamometer. The Independent Student t test was used for intergroup analysis. RESULTS: The intervention group compared with the control showed better results for the outcomes pain, balance and muscle strength after 12 weeks. However, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for levels of antero-posterior oscillation (DM -0.28, 95% CI -0.54 to -0.02; p = 0.035) and global oscillation (DM -0.36, 95% CI -0.68 to -0.04; p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: The intervention had a positive effect on postural balance in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis.

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