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 .
The effects of weight reduction on the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis and obesity.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of weight reduction on the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis and obesity . METHODS A total of 126 patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis and obesity were classified into 3 groups by their stages of osteoarthritis . Each group was divided into subgroups a , b , and c. The subjects in subgroup a received weight reduction treatment , those in subgroup b received weight reduction and electrotherapy modalities , and those in subgroup c received electrotherapy modalities to relieve pain . RESULTS Pain reduction , weight reduction , ambulation speed , and changes of Lequesne 's index were greater in patients in subgroups a and b than in subgroup c after treatment . Although the last pain scores in subgroup b were less than those in subgroup a , as measured by a visual analog scale ( VAS ) , there was no significant difference between their functional status . Significant pain relief ( VAS < 2 ) and an acceptable functional status ( Lequesne 's index < 7 ) were indicated when weight reduction was more than 15 % and 12 % , respectively , of the initial body weight of the individual . CONCLUSION Weight reduction was found to be a practical adjuvant treatment in the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis
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 .