Physical Therapy versus Glucocorticoid Injection for Osteoarthritis of the Knee. (April 2020, N Engl J) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1905877
Summary
Study Objective:
To compare the effectiveness of physical therapy* and glucocorticoid injections for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving patients with knee osteoarthritis. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either physical therapy or a single glucocorticoid injection. The primary outcomes assessed were pain reduction and functional improvement.
Results:
Both physical therapy and glucocorticoid injections were found to be effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, physical therapy was associated with longer-lasting benefits compared to glucocorticoid injections.
Conclusion:
The choice between physical therapy and glucocorticoid injections for knee osteoarthritis may depend on individual patient factors and preferences. However, the results of this study suggest that physical therapy may be a more effective long-term treatment option.
*Physical therapy included instructions and images for exercises, joint mobilizations, and the clinical reasoning underlying the priorities, dosing, and progression of treatment
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