Efficacy of core exercises in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Trial design: Randomized, evaluator blinded, controlled, parallel group.

Methods: This trial was conducted between July 2011 and January 2015 at a public hospital in Argentina. Patients older than 40 years with a medical diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG) or control group (CG). Both groups performed conventional exercises 3 times a week for 12 weeks and core exercises were added to the EG intervention. The objective was to compare the efficacy of conventional treatment combined with core muscle strengthening exercises, with conventional treatment alone in terms of short- and medium-term pain reduction and physical function in patients with knee OA. The primary outcome was knee pain assessed using a visual analog scale and the secondary outcome was physical function assessed at baseline, week 8 and 12, and 2 follow-up visits held 1 month and 3 months after the end of treatment.

Results: 113 patients were randomized to a CG (n = 60) or EG (n = 53). 66 patients were eliminated and 25 patients in the EG and 22 in the CG were analyzed. Both pain reduction and improved physical function were observed throughout the intervention in both groups. At the end of the treatment, a statistically and clinically significant pain reduction was observed in the EG. No adverse effects were reported.

Conclusion: The combination of core muscle activation exercises and conventional treatment was more effective in short-term pain reduction in patients with knee OA.