Exercise in Osteoarthritis: Does It Help?
Overview data on exercise therapy in osteoarthritis question its universal promotion
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By
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Julia Cipriano, MS, CMPP
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March 4, 2026
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1
Current evidence on exercise for osteoarthritis shows negligible or short-term effects, questioning its universal promotion.
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Exercise is recommended as a first-line therapy for osteoarthritis, despite findings suggesting limited effectiveness compared to other treatments.
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The review included 5 systematic reviews and 28 supplementary trials, encompassing over 12,000 patients with various osteoarthritis subtypes.
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Moderate-certainty evidence indicated negligible effects for hip osteoarthritis and small effects for hand osteoarthritis.
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The researchers emphasized the need for further research to address uncertainties and inform clinical practice regarding exercise benefits.
