Knee Osteoarthritis and the Efficacy of Different Forms of Exercise: Is One Form Better Than Another?

Osteoarthritis affects 20% of the global population, making it the most common musculoskeletal problem in the world. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) increases in prevalence with age and affects women more than men, although both are affected. Eighty percent of persons with knee OA experience pain and 25% struggle to perform activities of daily living. These decreases in function and mobility can affect the overall quality of life for these individuals. Several studies have examined different forms of exercise in knee OA patients (resistance training, aerobic exercise, dynamic training, mind-body exercise, and retro and forward walking) as a means of improving pain, function, performance, quality of life, muscle strength, mobility, functional capacity, and aerobic fitness. Weight-bearing exercise shows promising results for improving the pain and dysfunction caused by knee OA