Effects of exercise therapy on joint instability in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A systematic review

Objective: Abnormal load stress caused by joint instability has been reported to be one of the factors responsible for the development of osteoarthritis (OA). However, few studies have investigated the efficacy of exercise therapy for patients with knee instability-induced OA, and there are no specific treatment guidelines or effects for this form of OA. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercise treatments for joint instability in patients with knee OA by a systematic review.

Design: Systematic review.

Results: Searches in three databases, PubMed, Cochrane, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, yielded 14 articles that were scrutinized, and 6 articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected.

Conclusions: Exercise therapy focusing on joint instability, including muscle maintenance and strength training, and specific training targeting knee instability have no additional beneficial effects on knee joint instability. However, because of the benefits of treatment protocols based on patient attributes in exercise treatment focused on joint instability, it is necessary to investigate the effects in more detail in the future.