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Evidence summaries

Exercise for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Therapeutic exercise is effective in reducing pain, improving physical function and quality of life for people with osteoarhritis of the knee, but the effect is rather small. Level of evidence: "A"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 54 studies.

Exercise reduced pain (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.59) immediately after treatment (44 trials, 3537 participants). Pain was estimated at 44 points on a 0 to 100-point scale (0 indicated no pain) in the control group; exercise reduced pain by an equivalent of 12 points (95% CI 10 to 15 points). Exercise improved physical function (SMD -0.52, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.64) immediately after treatment (44 trials, 3913 participants). Physical function was estimated at 38 points on a 0 to 100-point scale (0 indicated no loss of physical function) in the control group; exercise improved physical function by an equivalent of 10 points (95% CI 8 to 13 points). Exercise improved quality of life (SMD 0.28, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.40) immediately after treatment (13 studies,1073 participants). Quality of life was estimated at 43 points on a 0 to 100-point scale (100 indicated best quality of life) in the control group; exercise improved quality of life by an equivalent of 4 points (95% CI 2 to 5 points).

    References

    • Fransen M, McConnell S, Harmer AR et al. Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015;1():CD004376. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords