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 .
Unstable shoe construction and reduction of pain in osteoarthritis patients.
PURPOSE The purpose s of this study were to assess a ) the effectiveness of Masai Barefoot Technology ( MBT ) shoe in reducing  knee pain in persons with knee osteoarthritis ( OA ) and ( b ) changes in balance , ankle and knee ROM , and ankle strength compared with a high-end walking shoe for 12 wk . METHODS The research design was a r and omized controlled trial ( 123 subjects , knee OA ) . Subjects were r and omized to a MBT ( N = 57 ) or a control shoe ( N = 66 ) . A Western Ontario and McMaster Universities ( WOMAC ) OA index , BMI , balance , active ROM , and ankle torque were quantified at week 0 , 3 , 6 , 9 , and 12 . Two- sample t-tests were done for between-group comparisons . RESULTS There was no significant difference between groups in total pain score . A significant reduction over the 12-wk period was found for both shoe conditions ( -42/500 or 25.6 % MBT , -46.2 or 27.1 % control ) . There was no significant group difference in pain during walking ( t = -1.09 , P = 0.28 ) . Pain during walking was significantly reduced by 5.2/100 mm in the MBT and 9.7/100 mm in the control group . Total pain showed a significant reduction for the MBT -27.4/500 ( -16.6 % ) and the control group -28.9/500 ( -17.0 % ) between baseline and week 3 . Between week 3 and 6 , there was a significant reduction for the MBT group only ( -27.2/500 or -20.0 % ) . There was a significant increase in the static balance between baseline and 12 wk in the MBT group only , although the difference between groups was not significant . DISCUSSION The results indicate that special shoe interventions can reduce pain in subjects with moderate knee OA
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 .