Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) can be a debilitating condition for many older adults, causing pain and stiffness in the knee joint. While traditional treatments often involve anti-inflammatory drugs with potential side effects, a recent meta-analysis has highlighted promising non-drug therapies for managing KOA.

Published on June 18, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS One by Yuan Luo from the First People's Hospital of Neijiang, China, the study reviewed data from 139 clinical trials involving nearly 10,000 individuals to assess the effectiveness of various non-drug treatments.

The analysis compared 12 different therapies, including laser therapy, electrical stimulation, braces, insoles, kinesiology tape, water-based therapy, exercise, and ultrasound. By combining the results from these studies, researchers were able to rank the therapies based on their efficacy in managing KOA.

Among the non-drug therapies studied, knee braces emerged as the most effective in reducing pain, improving function, and relieving stiffness. Hydrotherapy, which involves exercises or treatments in warm water, was particularly successful in alleviating pain. General exercise also showed consistent effectiveness in improving both pain levels and physical function. On the other hand, high-intensity laser therapy and shock wave therapy demonstrated some benefits, while ultrasound ranked lowest in terms of effectiveness.

Although the authors acknowledge limitations such as differences in study design and sample sizes, they emphasize the potential of physical therapy as a safe and effective alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs for managing KOA. They suggest that future research should explore the combined efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these non-drug therapies.

The authors recommend knee braces, hydrotherapy, and exercise as the top non-drug therapies for knee osteoarthritis, emphasizing their ability to reduce pain and improve mobility without the risks associated with common pain medications. They believe that prioritizing these evidence-based options could lead to a shift in clinical guidelines towards safer and more cost-effective interventions.