Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40247321›Full record

SynthesisJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2025

Comparative efficacy of mind-body exercise for pain, function, quality of life in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Kaixia Gao, Jinmeng Tao, Guangyuan Liang, Chen Gong, Lin Wang, Yuling Wang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewComparative StudyNetwork Meta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kaixia Gao *Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200000, China.
Jinmeng Tao *Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510655, China.
Guangyuan LiangPostgraduate Research Institute, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China.
Chen GongDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510655, China.
Lin WangDepartment of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200000, China. wanglin@sus.edu.cn.
Yuling WangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510655, China. wangyul@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Funding

Guangdong Hopson-Pearl River Education Development Foundation H20190116202012724Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Rehabilitation Medicine 2023B110003Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province 20231067
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionKnee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent chronic joint disease. Due to the risks of opioid use and limited pharmacological effectiveness, mind-body exercise (MBE) therapy and other non-pharmacological interventions have emerged as first-line treatments for this condition. However, the optimal MBE modes for KOA remain undetermined. This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) aims to compare the efficacy of different MBE modes, including Pilates, Tai Chi, Yoga, and Qigong, in managing KOA.

methodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database from inception to 25 April 2024. Randomized clinical trials comparing MBE interventions for pain, physical function and quality of life (QoL) in KOA patients were eligible. The Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool 2.0 and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development & Evaluation (GRADE) approach were used to assess literature quality and evidence certainty for each outcome.

resultA total of 38 studies (N = 2561) were included, with 38 for pain, 36 for physical function, and 12 for QoL in the NMA. With moderate-certainty, both Pilates and TC showed significant improvements in pain reduction [Pilates: standardized mean difference (SMD) =  - 1.19, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): - 1.92 to - 0.46; TC: SMD =  - 0.78, 95% CI - 0.97 to - 0.59] and physical function (Pilates: SMD =  - 1.37, 95% CI - 2.13 to - 0.50; TC: SMD =  - 0.85, 95% CI - 1.08 to - 0.63) compared to the usual care group, while TC [SMD =  - 0.57, 95% CI = (- 1.07 to - 0.06)] showed statistically significant efficacy in improving QoL compared to the usual care group.

conclusionThere is moderate-certainty evidence that Pilates and Tai Chi may be the most effective mind-body exercises for improving pain and physical function in knee osteoarthritis, while Tai Chi may be the best for improving quality of life. These findings may help clinicians guide their prescription of exercise types with respect to treatment outcomes. The limited number of large sample studies and the few studies with low bias risk are limitations. Trial registration The protocol for NMA has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024531878).

Indexed as

Mind-Body TherapiesOsteoarthritis, KneePain ManagementQuality of LifeExercise TherapyHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTai JiTreatment OutcomeYogaKnee osteoarthritisMind–body exercisesNetwork meta-analysisSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40247321
PMCPMC12004734

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.