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©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
Effectiveness of exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee: A review of the literature
Jun Iwamoto, Tsuyoshi Takeda, Hideo Matsumoto, Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Yoshihiro Sato, Department of Neurology, Mitate Hospital, Tagawa, Fukuoka 826-0041, Japan
Author contributions: Iwamoto J and Sato Y designed the research; Takeda Y and Matsumoto H performed the research; Iwamoto J analyzed the data and wrote the paper.
Supported by A grant from the Japan Sports Medicine Foundation, Inc.
Correspondence to: Jun Iwamoto, MD, Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. jiwamoto@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-3-33531211 Fax: +81-3-33529467
Received: January 4, 2011
Revised: May 3, 2011
Accepted: May 10, 2011
Published online: May 18, 2011
Revised: May 3, 2011
Accepted: May 10, 2011
Published online: May 18, 2011
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common type of arthritis and the major cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain and mobility disability in the elderly. The objective of this paper is to discuss the effectiveness of exercise for OA of the knee based on a review of the literature. We reviewed the relevant literature, i.e. systematic reviews and meta-analyses searched using PubMed. Muscle strengthening and aerobic exercises are effective in reducing pain and improving physical function in patients with mild to moderate OA of the knee.