ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2023
Physiotherapy for patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis in Germany: a survey of current practice.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Barriers and facilitators of adherence to clinical practice guidelines in Germany-A systematic review.Journal of evaluation in clinical practice · 2025Pooled it
- [Effectiveness of digital therapy in patellofemoral pain treatment].Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026Trial
- Determinants and strategies for implementing guideline-adherent physiotherapy: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Exploring the Quality of Physical Therapy in Patients With Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis in Germany: A Cross-Sectional, Vignette-Based Study.Physical therapy · 2025Article
- To Implement or Not to Implement? A Commentary on the Pitfalls of Judging the Value and Risks of Personalized Prognostic Statistical Models.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Longitudinal and transverse muscle stiffness change differently with knee osteoarthritis and do not align with stiffness sensation.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
- Article
- Global mapping survey research on physiotherapeutic interventions for osteoarthritis: a scoping review protocol.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Guideline-Adherent Physiotherapy for Patients With Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis in Germany: Protocol for an Implementation Research Project Using the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Behavior Change Wheel.JMIR research protocols · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and the knee is common and leads to pain, stiffness and disability. Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) provide recommendations to assist healthcare professionals in clinical decision-making. Although evidence-based physiotherapy has been shown to be effective in the management OA, a gap between clinical practice and guideline recommendations exists. Little is known about OA management provided by physiotherapists in Germany and whether treatment aligns with CPGs. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the current physiotherapy practice in patients with hip and/or knee OA in Germany, (2) to evaluate physiotherapists' adherence to guideline recommendations and (3) to explore barriers and facilitators to guideline use.
methodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among physiotherapists. The questionnaire collected information on demographic characteristics, physiotherapists' management of hip and knee OA and the use of CPGs in clinical practice. Guideline adherence was evaluated by comparing the survey findings with guideline recommendations. Full adherence was assumed if all recommended treatment options were chosen.
resultsIn total, 447 (74.9%) of 597 eligible physiotherapists completed the survey. Data from 442 participants (mean age 41.2 ± 12.8 years; 288 female (65.1%)) were included in the analysis. The most common treatment choices for both hip and knee OA were exercise therapy (hip OA: 424/442, 95.9%; knee OA: 426/442, 96.4%), self-management advice (hip OA: 413/442, 93.2%; knee OA: 395/442, 89.4%) and education (hip OA: 325/442, 73.5%; knee OA: 331/442, 74.9%), followed by manual therapy (hip OA: 311/442, 70.4%; knee OA: 311/442, 70.4%) and joint traction (hip OA: 208/442, 47.1%; knee OA: 199/442, 45.0%). Full guideline adherence was found in 17.2% (76/442) of physiotherapists for hip OA management and in 8.6% (38/442) for knee OA. Less than half of the respondents (212/430, 49.3%) were aware of an OA guideline.
conclusionsIn accordance with current guideline recommendations, most physiotherapists provide exercise therapy and education for patients with hip and/or knee OA. Interventions with low or conflicting evidence were also frequently provided. The limited awareness of existing OA guidelines and the low guideline adherence indicate an insufficient implementation of CPGs in German physiotherapy practice.
trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00026702). Registered 14 October 2021.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.