Effect of low-intensity muscle strength training on postoperative rehabilitation and adverse events in patients with knee osteoarthritis over 55 years of age: a meta-analysis

Background: This study aimed to study the effect of low-intensity muscle strength training on postoperative rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis over 55 years of age and the incidence of adverse events by a meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), PubMed, Web of science, and Embase databases for articles on the effect of low-intensity muscle strength training on the recovery of patients with knee arthritis. And meta-analysis combined effect was performed in R 4.2.2 software. Quantitative analysis and risk of bias were assessed by Begg's and Eegger's test.

Results: Meta-analysis showed that the effect of low-intensity muscle strength training on postoperative knee range of motion in patients with knee arthritis was mean difference (MD) = 5.20, 95% CI=[4.00, 6.40], τ² = 0.43, P = 0.34; the effect on postoperative muscle strength was standard mean difference (SMD) = 1.24, 95% CI=[0.86, 1.61], τ² = 0.07, P < 0.01; the effect on postoperative knee joint score was MD = 5.88, 95%CI=[2.09, 9.67], τ² = 16.60, P < 0.01; the effect on postoperative knee visual analogue scale (VAS) score was MD=-1.12, 95%CI =[-1.43, -0.81], τ² = 0.09, P < 0.001; the effect on the incidence of adverse events was RR = 0.85, 95%CI= [0.52 1.39], τ² = 0.79, P = 0.04.

Conclusion: Low-intensity muscle strength training can improve the muscle strength of the affected limb and knee joint score, reduce the VAS score and the incidence of adverse events in patients with knee osteoarthritis over 55 years of age after surgery, but it has no effect on the postoperative knee range of motion, so it can be considered as appropriate in clinical selection.