Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
Tuina Intervention in Rabbit Model of Knee Osteoarthritis
Published on: August 25, 2023
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Om Giggins1, Bm Fullen, Gf Coughlan
1School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Ireland. oonagh.giggins@ucd.ie
Objective:
To assess the effectiveness of surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
Design:
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled and controlled clinical trials
Methods:
Studies were identified from databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Sports Discus, PEDro and the Cochrane Library) searched to January 2011 using a battery of keywords. Two reviewers selected studies meeting inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Thomas Test and the strength of the evidence was then graded using the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guidelines. Data were pooled and meta-analyses were performed.
Results:
Nine randomized controlled trials and one controlled clinical trial, studying a total of 409 participants (n = 395 for randomized controlled trials, and n = 14 for controlled trial) with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis were included. Inconsistent evidence (level D) was found that neuromuscular electrical stimulation has a significant impact on measures of pain, function and quadriceps femoris muscle strength in knee osteoarthritis.
Conclusion:
The role of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is ambiguous. Therefore, future work is needed in this field to clearly establish the role of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in this population.
