Exercise in Osteoarthritis: Does It Help? Overview data on exercise therapy in osteoarthritis question its universal promotion By Julia Cipriano, MS, CMPP March 4, 2026 3 min Conexiant Share Summary Takeaways Listen Quiz Poll Top Institutions 1 Current evidence on exercise for osteoarthritis shows negligible or short-term effects, questioning its universal promotion. 2 Exercise is recommended as a first-line therapy for osteoarthritis, despite findings suggesting limited effectiveness compared to other treatments. 3 The review included 5 systematic reviews and 28 supplementary trials, encompassing over 12,000 patients with various osteoarthritis subtypes. 4 Moderate-certainty evidence indicated negligible effects for hip osteoarthritis and small effects for hand osteoarthritis. 5 The researchers emphasized the need for further research to address uncertainties and inform clinical practice regarding exercise benefits.
