Physical therapy in persons with osteoarthritis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a primary cause of musculoskeletal pain and disability, affecting millions.
• The prevalence of OA is increasing due to population aging, leading to higher demand in clinics.
• Effective pain reduction and function improvement are key goals for OA patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the effectiveness of various physical therapy (PT) modalities for osteoarthritis.
• To identify prognostic indicators for patients likely to respond well to PT.
• To explore barriers to PT acceptance in OA treatment.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of recent, high-quality literature on PT interventions for OA.
• Analysis of prognostic factors influencing PT outcomes.
• Identification of barriers to PT adoption.

Main Results:

• Strength training, aquatic therapy, and balance/perturbation training show the most significant benefits for pain reduction and function improvement.
• Electrical stimulation has minimal impact; manual therapy evidence is inconclusive.
• Milder disease, shorter symptom duration, and higher pain scores (≥6) predict better PT outcomes, suggesting early referral is advantageous.

Conclusions:

• Physical therapy, particularly strength, aquatic, and balance training, is a highly effective treatment for osteoarthritis.
• Early PT referral for patients with specific prognostic indicators can optimize outcomes.
• Addressing patient and provider-related barriers is crucial for widespread PT acceptance in OA care.