ArticleAging clinical and experimental research2025
Physical modalities for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis.
Article in Aging clinical and experimental research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Low dose NSAIDs and sysadoas in the management of knee osteoarthritis.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2025Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Swedish massage versus hip strengthening exercises for pain and function in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2026Trial
- Synergistic effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in knee osteoarthritis: clinical outcomes and biochemical mechanisms.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Trial
- Evolving Strategies for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Narrative Review of Integrated Rehabilitation, Pharmacologic, and Joint-Preserving Interventions.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Review
- Bibliometric and visual analysis of artificial intelligence-related research in osteoarthritis: Trends and frontiers (2008-2025).Medicine · 2026Review
- From concept to practice: intra-articular photobiomodulation for knee osteoarthritis.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Non-surgical management of knee osteoarthritis: a stepped conservative care paradigm for early-stage disease and high-risk populations.Frontiers in surgery · 2026Review
- Exploring the Effects of Virtual Reality on Pain Relief and Physical Mobility in Spa-Based Treatment.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThis network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to compare the efficacy of various physical modalities in alleviating pain, stiffness, and functional impairment in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
methodsIn accordance with PRISMA-P guidelines, we systematically searched nine databases(CNKI, VIP Database, Wanfang Database, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) from inception to October 2024 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating physical therapies for KOA. The interventions assessed included electrical stimulation therapy (EST), low-level light therapy (LLLT), thermotherapy (TT), cryotherapy (CT), and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), with resistance and range of motion exercises (RRE) serving as comparators. Outcome measures comprised the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and 6-minute walk test (6 MWT). Bayesian network meta-analyses and pairwise meta-analyses were performed using Stata 17.0 and R 4.4.1 software.
results32 RCTs involving 2,078 participants were included. LLLT demonstrated the highest efficacy for pain reduction (VAS: MD=-3.32, 95% CI:-3.82 to-0.75; WOMAC pain: MD=-3.74, 95% CI:-6.68 to-0.72) and joint function improvement (SUCRA = 79.8). ESWT ranked second for pain relief (VAS: MD=-1.31, 95% CI:-2.42 to-0.16) and mobility enhancement (6 MWT: SUCRA = 71.5), while TT showed superior efficacy in reducing stiffness (WOMAC stiffness: MD=-2.09, 95%CI:-3.06 to-0.94; SUCRA = 98.1). In contrast, ultrasonic therapy (UT) did not provide significant benefits.
conclusionsThe findings suggest that LLLT and ESWT may be optimal for pain relief and functional improvement in patients with KOA, whereas TT appears to be the most effective in reducing stiffness. Optimal dosing parameters of these physical modalities are crucial for maximizing clinical benefits. Clinicians should individualize treatment strategies based on patient-specific factors. Future large-scale RCTs are warranted to validate these protocols and address the heterogeneity of existing evidence. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
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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.