RMD Open

Exercise yields only modest, short‑term relief for osteoarthritis

February 18, 2026

An extensive overview of systematic reviews and randomized trials (N ≈13,000) found that exercise yields small, short-term reductions in pain for knee and hand osteoarthritis (OA), with negligible effects in hip OA. Certainty of evidence was low to moderate, and benefits tended to diminish in larger or longer-duration trials. Exercise performed similarly to education, manual therapy, analgesics, injections, and arthroscopy but was less effective than knee osteotomy or joint replacement in single longer-term trials. Authors conclude that current evidence does not clearly support exercise as a universally effective intervention and suggest reevaluating research priorities and treatment discussions.

Clinical takeaway: Exercise may still be reasonable for general health and patient preference, but clinicians should set realistic expectations and incorporate shared decision‑making when recommending exercise for OA symptom management.

Source:

Schleimer T, et al. (2026, February 17). RMD Open. Effectiveness of exercise therapy for osteoarthritis: an overview of systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41702669/