A meta-analysis of more than 100 clinical trials involving nearly 10,000 participants revealed that knee accommodation, aquatic therapy and exercise are the most effective non-drug treatments.
According to a new meta-analysis published in the Revue Open-Access Plos a. The study was conducted by Yuan Luo of the first popular hospital in Neijiang, China.
Koa osteoarthritis (KoA) is one of the most common and invalidable joint conditions, affecting millions of elderly people in the world. This often causes persistent pain and stiffness in the knee, making daily activities difficult. Standard care frequently involves anti-inflammatory drugs, but these drugs include risks of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects.
To explore safer processing options, the researchers assessed the current corpus of evidence on non -drug interventions for Koa. They examined the results of 139 clinical trials which included nearly 10,000 participants, comparing 12 different approaches. These therapies went from laser therapy, electrical stimulation and knee hugs to the interior soles, the kinesiology strip, the water -based exercise, traditional exercise programs and ultrasound. By grouping data in all tests in a meta-analysis of the important network, the team was able to classify the treatments by their global efficiency.
Key conclusions
The knee hugs are released in most categories, including pain reduction, improvement of function and relief of stiffness. Hydrotherapy – exercises or treatments carried out in lukewarm water – was particularly effective in alleviating pain and general exercise was also constantly effective, improving both pain and physical function. High intensity laser therapy and shock wave therapy have shown certain advantages, while ultrasound has systematically noted the lowest efficiency.
The authors warn that the differences in the design of the study, the size of the small samples and the variability of the duration of the treatment between the 139 studies included can limit the precision of the classification. However, they conclude that physiotherapy has promising effects on KOA, offering potential treatments without the risks of anti-inflammatory drugs. Future studies should examine the clinical efficiency of combined therapies, as well as their profitability.
The authors add: “Knee hugs, hydrotherapy and exercise are the most effective non-drug therapies for knee osteoarthritis. They reduce pain and improve mobility without gastrointestinal or cardiovascular risks linked to current pain relievers. Patients and clinicians should prioritize these options based on evidence. ”
“Our analysis of nearly 10,000 patients reveals that simple and accessible therapies such as the knee offender and the water -based exercise surpass high -tech options such as ultrasound.
Reference: “Clinical efficiency of different therapeutic options for knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of the network based on randomized clinical trials” by Xiao Chen, Fan of Yuanhe, Hongliang Tu and Yuan Luo, June 18, 2025, Plos a.
DOI: 10.1371 / Journal.pone.0324864
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