Study Questions Long-Term Effectiveness of Exercise Therapy for Osteoarthritis
A comprehensive review suggests that exercise therapy may offer minimal and short-lived relief for osteoarthritis symptoms, prompting a reevaluation of its role as a primary treatment.
A recent comprehensive review published in RMD Open indicates that exercise therapy may provide only minimal and short-term relief for osteoarthritis symptoms. The study analyzed data from 5 systematic reviews and 28 randomized clinical trials, encompassing 12,991 participants with knee, hip, hand, and ankle osteoarthritis. The findings suggest that exercise therapy's effectiveness in alleviating pain and improving physical function is limited and transient. The authors recommend reconsidering the universal promotion of exercise as a first-line treatment for osteoarthritis and suggest revisiting research priorities in this area. They also emphasize the importance of shared decision-making between clinicians and patients, considering the modest benefits of exercise alongside its safety, low cost, and other health advantages.