Exercise Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis to Reduce the Pain: A Systematic Review

The purpose of this study was to assess the value of different models exercise therapy emphasizing exercise for the management of knee osteoarthritis. This analysis included data from four trials with a total of 1,317 individuals. The exercise therapy models included were exercise therapy, elastic band therapy, traditional wuqinx therapy, and tai chi. The trials included in this meta-analysis suggest that people with knee osteoarthritis may benefit greatly from exercise-based therapy in terms of pain reduction, improved function, and improved quality of life. These findings suggest that exercise-based therapy offers a nonpharmacological, low-risk, and cost-effective treatment option for knee osteoarthritis. Exercise-based therapy should be considered as a primary treatment option for patients with knee osteoarthritis by all health care practitioners. Future research should explore the potential benefits of combining exercise-based interventions with other treatment options and determine the optimal exercise program for different stages of knee osteoarthritis.