Exercises and Braces Top Treatments for Knee Osteoarthritis

New Study Reveals Effective Strategies for Managing Pain and Improving Function

A recent study has shed light on the most effective approaches to alleviate the discomfort associated with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers have analyzed various interventions, offering new insights into how individuals can manage this common condition and improve their quality of life.

Most Effective Strategies

The study found that knee braces provide the best results across several metrics, including pain, stiffness, and overall function. The researchers highlighted that these braces are the most likely to be the best treatment option. Additionally, staying active and maintaining a healthy weight emerged as crucial strategies for reducing osteoarthritis symptoms, as confirmed by Morgan Jones, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon.

Hydrotherapy and exercises like weightlifting and yoga ranked second and third, respectively, in the analysis. Hydrotherapy, which involves water exercises or aquatherapy, is designed to improve symptoms, according to the findings. Both exercise and weight management can enhance symptoms and slow the progression of arthritis, as Jones noted.

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“Both of those can improve symptoms and slow the progression of arthritis,”

—Morgan Jones, Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon

Approximately 32.5 million adults in the United States are living with osteoarthritis, according to the CDC (CDC 2024).

Understanding the Causes

Knee osteoarthritis arises when the cartilage in the knee degrades, leading to “bone-on-bone motion,” as explained by Jayabalan. Cartilage does not possess the ability to repair itself. Common factors that elevate the risk of this condition include a prior knee injury, like an ACL tear, and unhealthy weight gain. Each extra pound adds significant stress to the knees when walking, as stated by Steve Messier, the director of the J.B. Snow Biomechanics Laboratory at Wake Forest University.

The study indicated that exercise of any kind can reduce pain, as stated by Messier. It’s important to note that while knee replacements are a common solution for damaged joints, recovery can take up to a year.

Study Limitations

The study’s results show short-term pain relief from these treatments. Additionally, many of the trials were conducted with small groups of participants, according to Jones.

According to Jayabalan, studies did not look at whether treatments were leading to mechanistic improvements in the knee. Instead, the studies recorded observations.