Simple therapies beat drugs for knee arthritis pain relief
Why it matters: Millions of older adults suffering from knee osteoarthritis could benefit from safer, more accessible, and effective non-drug treatments.
- Knee braces, hydrotherapy, and exercise are identified as the most effective non-drug therapies for knee osteoarthritis, significantly reducing pain and improving mobility.
- These non-drug approaches avoid the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks associated with common anti-inflammatory medications.
- A large-scale meta-analysis of 139 clinical trials involving nearly 10,000 participants compared 12 different non-drug therapies.
- High-intensity laser therapy and shock wave therapy provided moderate improvements, while ultrasound consistently ranked as the least effective treatment option.
- Future research should explore combining therapies and assessing their cost-effectiveness in real-world care settings.
A major analysis of nearly 10,000 patients reveals that simple, non-drug treatments like knee braces, hydrotherapy, and exercise are more effective for knee osteoarthritis pain relief than medications, offering significant symptom reduction without the associated risks. Published in PLOS, these findings suggest a shift towards accessible, low-cost therapies in future arthritis treatment protocols. While some advanced treatments showed moderate benefits, ultrasound was found to be the least effective option.
