The Impact of Exercise Interventions on Pain, Function, and Quality of Life in Patients With Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease that significantly impacts mobility and quality of life (QoL). Exercise interventions, including aerobic training, resistance exercises, and multimodal programs, are widely recommended for managing symptoms. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various exercise interventions on pain, physical function, and QoL in individuals with knee and hip OA. A comprehensive search of five databases identified 12 studies involving 4,920 participants. The results revealed that Tai Chi and Baduanjin Qigong benefited older adults, while aerobic training was more effective for younger individuals. Additionally, combining diet with exercise produced the highest effect size (standardized mean difference: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.55-0.85). Personalizing exercise programs based on patient characteristics is essential for achieving sustained improvements. Future research should focus on strategies to enhance long-term adherence and develop standardized guidelines to optimize outcomes for individuals with OA.

Keywords: exercise interventions; exercise therapy/methods; hip/rehabilitation; knee/therapy; osteoarthritis; pain management; quality of life; quality of life/psychology; randomized controlled trials.

PMID: 39726491 PMCID: PMC11669877 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.74464