Impact of Exercise Therapy on Molecular Biomarkers Related to Cartilage and Inflammation in Individuals at Risk of, or With Established, Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Bricca A, et al. · Arthritis Care & Research

Exercise decreased cartilage-degradation/inflammation biomarkers in 30% of comparisons, had no effect in 63%, and increased them in 7%. Reassuring molecular signal that sensible exercise does not drive cartilage breakdown.

Population

12 RCTs (57 biomarker comparisons) in people at risk of or with knee OA

Intervention

Exercise therapy, 4-24 weeks

Comparator

Non-exercise controls

Limitations

Heterogeneous biomarkers and protocols; surrogate outcomes; meta-analytic effects mostly nonsignificant.