Knee osteoarthritis, a condition caused by wear and tear of cartilage that cushions the ends of bones, can be managed with non-drug therapies such as knee braces and water-based exercise. A review of 12 physical therapies found knee braces to be most effective at reducing pain and stiffness, followed closely by water-based exercise.
The researchers analyzed data from over 9,600 adults with the condition across 139 randomized controlled trials. They compared different physical therapies, including land-based exercise, high-energy laser therapy, and taping the knee. The results showed that while some treatments appeared effective, others had weak evidence due to small sample sizes and varying treatment durations.
The top three most effective treatments were knee braces, water-based exercise, and land-based exercise. High-energy laser therapy and two types of electrical stimulation also showed promise. However, the researchers caution that more research is needed before these findings can guide clinical practice.
The limitations of the study include small sample sizes and a lack of comparison with drug treatments or combination therapies. Despite this, the review provides valuable insights into what works best for knee osteoarthritis treatment, allowing clinicians to focus on improving evidence around the top-rated therapies.
Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2484776-the-best-non-drug-therapies-to-relieve-the-pain-of-knee-osteoarthritis