Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Dec 22;12(1):33.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare12010033.

Strength Training vs. Aerobic Training for Managing Pain and Physical Function in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Luis Ceballos-Laita  1 , Silvia Lahuerta-Martín  1 , Andoni Carrasco-Uribarren  2 , Sara Cabanillas-Barea  2 , Héctor Hernández-Lázaro  1 , Silvia Pérez-Guillén  2 , Sandra Jiménez-Del-Barrio  1
Affiliations
Review

Strength Training vs. Aerobic Training for Managing Pain and Physical Function in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Luis Ceballos-Laita et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

(1) Background: Strength training (ST) and aerobic training (AT) are the most recommended interventions in patients with knee OA. These recommendations are supported by high-quality evidence, but it is still unknow whether one type of exercise is superior to the other. Thus, the aim was to investigate whether one type of exercise (ST or AT) is superior to the other for improving pain and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. (2) Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out following the PRISMA statement. The search strategy was conducted in PubMed, PEDro, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases. Randomized controlled trials comparing ST and AT on pain intensity and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis were included. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed with a PEDro scale and risk-of-bias tool, respectively. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE guidelines. (3) Results: Four studies (6 publications) were included. The qualitative and quantitative synthesis showed that ST produces no more improvement in pain intensity (SMD after intervention: 0.02; 95%CI: -0.15, 0.19; I2: 0%; three studies; 426 patients) and physical function (SMD after intervention: 0.07; 95%CI: -0.10, 0.24; I2: 0%; three studies; 426 patients) compared to AT in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The certainty of evidence was rated as very low. (4) Conclusions: Both type of exercises showed clinical benefits in people with knee osteoarthritis, but no differences between ST and AT were found.

Keywords: endurance training; exercise; knee osteoarthritis; resistance training; systematic review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk-of-bias tool [34,41,42,43,44,45].
Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart diagram.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Forest plot of pain intensity. (B) Forest plot of physical function [40,41,43].
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Forest plot of pain intensity. (B) Forest plot of physical function [40,41,43].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Wallace I.J., Worthington S., Felson D.T., Jurmain R.D., Wren K.T., Maijanen H., Woods R.J., Lieberman D.E. Knee osteoarthritis has doubled in prevalence since the mid-20th century. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2017;114:9332–9336. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1703856114. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cui A., Li H., Wang D., Zhong J., Chen Y., Lu H. Global, regional prevalence, incidence and risk factors of knee osteoarthritis in population-based studies. EClinicalMedicine. 2020;29–30:100587. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100587. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bennell K. Physiotherapy management of hip osteoarthritis. J. Physiother. 2013;59:145–157. doi: 10.1016/S1836-9553(13)70179-6. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Slemenda C., Brandt K.D., Heilman D.K., Mazzuca S., Braunstein E.M., Katz B.P., Wolinsky F.D. Quadriceps Weakness and Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Ann. Intern. Med. 1997;127:97–104. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-127-2-199707150-00001. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Becker R., Berth A., Nehring M., Awiszus F. Neuromuscular quadriceps dysfunction prior to osteoarthritis of the knee. J. Orthop. Res. 2004;22:768–773. doi: 10.1016/j.orthres.2003.11.004. - DOI - PubMed

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.

LinkOut - more resources