Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee

Fransen M, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

High-quality evidence that exercise reduces pain (SMD ~-0.49, roughly 12 points on 0-100) and moderate-quality evidence it improves physical function immediately after treatment, with benefits sustained 2-6 months. Effect size comparable to NSAIDs.

Population

54 RCTs in people with knee OA

Intervention

Land-based therapeutic exercise (strengthening, aerobic, mixed)

Comparator

No exercise / usual care

Limitations

Blinding of participants impossible; symptom outcomes only, not structure; heterogeneous programs.