Several individual RCTs demonstrated clinical ly important improvements in pain and disability with aerobic exercise .
Other PT interventions demonstrated no sustained benefit .
Individual RCTs showed similar benefits with aerobic , aquatic , and strengthening exercise .
Adverse events were uncommon and did not deter participants from continuing treatment .
Low-strength evidence suggested that only a few PT interventions were effective .
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability .
Nonsurgical treatment is a key first step .
PURPOSE Systematic literature review of physical therapy ( PT ) interventions for community-dwelling adults with knee osteoarthritis .
Baduanjin alleviates the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVES To assess the feasibility and safety of using the health-promoting traditional Chinese exercise , known as Baduanjin , in treating knee osteoarthritis ( OA ) . SUBJECTS Twenty-eight ( 28 ) female patients who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for osteoarthritis of the knee signed the informed consent and were r and omized into the Baduanjin group ( n=14 ) and the control group ( n=14 ) . Eleven ( 11 ) patients in the Baduanjin group and 10 patients in the control group completed the trial . INTERVENTION The Baduanjin group patients exercised following taped comm and s in the community entertainment room during 30-minute classes five times a week for 8 weeks , whereas the control group received no treatment . OUTCOME MEASURES Indicators that include knee pain , stiffness , physical disability , general health , quadriceps strength , and aerobic ability were measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index ( WOMAC ) , the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 ( SF-36 ) , the 6-Minute Walk Test ( 6-MWT ) , and the Isokinetic Strength of the Knee Extensors ( ISKE ) . RESULTS Compared with the control group , the participants in the Baduanjin group had statistically significant improvements in percentage changes of the WOMAC pain subscale ( -61.8+/-35.7 % versus 44.6+/-102.8 % ; p=0.006 ) , the WOMAC stiffness subscale ( -53.4+/-46.1 % versus 135.8+/-386.7 % ; p=0.029 ) , the WOMAC physical function subscale ( -7.4+/-81.9 % versus 140.5+/-151.9 % ; p=0.024 ) , 6-MWT ( 11.9+/-7.5 % versus 1.6+/-13.0 % ; p=0.036 ) , and Peak Torque of the ISKE ( 15.1+/-33.7 % versus -16.1+/-16.6 % ; p=0.016 ) . The SF-36 's General Health , Social Function , and Mental Health subscales had no significant changes between those in the Baduanjin and control groups . As such , no adverse events from treatment were reported . CONCLUSIONS This study suggested that the Baduanjin exercise provided a safe and feasible treatment option for patients with knee OA , as well as offered reductions in pain , stiffness , and disability , which helped improve the patients ' quadriceps strength and aerobic ability
Several individual RCTs demonstrated clinical ly important improvements in pain and disability with aerobic exercise .
Other PT interventions demonstrated no sustained benefit .
Individual RCTs showed similar benefits with aerobic , aquatic , and strengthening exercise .
Adverse events were uncommon and did not deter participants from continuing treatment .
Low-strength evidence suggested that only a few PT interventions were effective .
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability .
Nonsurgical treatment is a key first step .
PURPOSE Systematic literature review of physical therapy ( PT ) interventions for community-dwelling adults with knee osteoarthritis .