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 .
Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND Massage therapy is an attractive treatment option for osteoarthritis ( OA ) , but its efficacy is uncertain . We conducted a r and omized , controlled trial of massage therapy for OA of the knee . METHODS Sixty-eight adults with radiographically confirmed OA of the knee were assigned either to treatment ( twice-weekly sessions of st and ard Swedish massage in weeks 1 - 4 and once-weekly sessions in weeks 5 - 8 ) or to control ( delayed intervention ) . Primary outcomes were changes in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index ( WOMAC ) pain and functional scores and the visual analog scale of pain assessment . The sample provided 80 % statistical power to detect a 20-point difference between groups in the change from baseline on the WOMAC and visual analog scale , with a 2-tailed alpha of .05 . RESULTS The group receiving massage therapy demonstrated significant improvements in the mean ( SD ) WOMAC global scores ( -17.44 [ 23.61 ] mm ; P < .001 ) , pain ( -18.36 [ 23.28 ] ; P < .001 ) , stiffness ( -16.63 [ 28.82 ] mm ; P < .001 ) , and physical function domains ( -17.27 [ 24.36 ] mm ; P < .001 ) and in the visual analog scale of pain assessment ( -19.38 [ 28.16 ] mm ; P < .001 ) , range of motion in degrees ( 3.57 [ 13.61 ] ; P = .03 ) , and time to walk 50 ft ( 15 m ) in seconds ( -1.77 [ 2.73 ] ; P < .01 ) . Findings were unchanged in multivariable models controlling for demographic factors . CONCLUSIONS Massage therapy seems to be efficacious in the treatment of OA of the knee . Further study of cost effectiveness and duration of treatment effect is clearly warranted .
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 .