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Arthritis

Knee Braces Proven to be Most Effective Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Knee braces have emerged as the most effective way to alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease affecting 33 million U.S. adults, according to a recent study published in PLOS One. The meta-analysis, led by Yuan Luo, a researcher in the department of rehabilitation at the First People's Hospital of Neijiang, China, analyzed data from 9,644 participants across 139 randomized controlled trials. Researchers ranked the relative effectiveness of 12 treatments, including laser therapy, ultrasound, and exercises, and found that knee braces provided the highest probability of being the best technique for alleviating pain, stiffness, and improving function.

Key Takeaways:

  • Knee braces emerged as the most effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis, providing significant pain relief and improving function and stiffness in patients.
  • Hydrotherapy and exercises, such as weightlifting and yoga, ranked second and third in the meta-analysis, with hydrotherapy improving symptoms and slowing the progression of arthritis.
  • Staying active and maintaining a healthy weight are the most effective ways to relieve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, according to experts, including Morgan Jones, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at Mass General Brigham.
  • The study highlights the importance of getting patients to actually wear knee braces, a challenge identified by Prakash Jayabalan, the director of musculoskeletal research at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.
  • Unloader braces are more effective for people with arthritis in certain compartments of the knee, while those with arthritis throughout the knee may not benefit from an unloader brace.
  • Emerging alternatives, including targeting nerves to stop knee pain and blocking blood flow to reduce inflammation, are being explored as potential treatments for knee osteoarthritis.

Statistics:

  • 33 million U.S. adults have osteoarthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • 9,644 participants took part in the meta-analysis.
  • 139 randomized controlled trials were included in the analysis.
  • 12 treatments were compared in the study, including knee braces, hydrotherapy, and exercises.
  • Up to a year may be required for some people to fully recover from knee replacement surgery.

Sources:

  • Luo, Y., et al. (2023). Relative effectiveness of 12 interventions for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS One. Volume 18, Issue 1, pp. e0281315.
  • Jayabalan, P. (Interviewed by Teddy Amenabar). Expert Insights: Managing Knee Osteoarthritis.
  • Jones, M. (Interviewed by Teddy Amenabar). Expert Insights: Managing Knee Osteoarthritis.
  • Messier, S. (Interviewed by Teddy Amenabar). Expert Insights: Managing Knee Osteoarthritis.

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