← Back to Research Articles

The Effects of Physical Exercise on Pain Management in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review with Metanalysis

Authors: Rocha, T. C. and Ramos, P. D. S. and Dias, A. G. and Martins, E. A.

Year: 2020 Journal: Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) Vol/Issue: Vol. 55, No. 5 Pages: 509-517

Study Characteristics

Lifestyle Pillars
Physical Activity
Study Design
Meta-analysis/Sys Review

Abstract

Objective  The present study verified, through a systematic review with meta-analysis, the effects of a rehabilitation, physical training program for the treatment of pain and muscle strength in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods  We analyzed studies published between 2008 and 2018 referenced at the Medline (National Library of Medicine) database, selecting 7 randomized controlled clinical trials about exercise programs to improve pain and muscle strength in patients with knee OA with Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PeDro) score higher than 8. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) systematization was used to prepare this review, and a meta-analysis was carried out to obtain mathematical evidence the outcomes of physical exercise on pain. Results  The studies included in the analysis contained a total of 934 participants aged 40 to 73 years-old, with 34.90% males. Most of the exercise sets offered in OA treatment had a significantly positive outcome result in both criteria, but mainly for pain relief (statistically significant difference, p  < 0.003). Conclusion  We infer that there was an improvement of pain in all articles that performed muscle strengthening, but there is still an obstacle to the protocols used.