Revolutionary Trial Favors Exercise Over NSAIDs For Knee Arthritis

Could properly performed squats, lunges and leg lifts relieve knee osteoarthritis symptoms better than celebrex or advil?

This groundbreaking study found a tailored 12-week exercise program yielded superior improvement in pain, function and quality of life compared to NSAID treatment in knee osteoarthritis patients. The findings support conservative exercise therapy over risky anti-inflammatories.

Could simply exercising properly relieve knee arthritis symptoms better than pills? For osteoarthritis sufferers worldwide, movement may soon trump medication as first-line treatment.'

A landmark randomized controlled trial published in Cartilage reveals 12 weeks of customized strengthening, flexibility and stabilization exercise training leads to significantly greater relief from knee osteoarthritis symptoms and functional limitations than standard NSAID treatments (celecoxib (aka Celebrix), diclofenac (aka Voltaren) and naproxen (aka Advil)).¹

Study lead author Dr. Jing Chao of Hebei Medical University explains, 

"This study shows that exercise rehabilitation provides significant improvements in pain, other symptoms, and quality of life compared to that achieved by conventional treatments."

The study divided 166 knee osteoarthritis patients randomly into a structured, progressive lower limb exercise program performed under physiotherapist guidance for 20 minutes daily or control groups receiving standard care with NSAIDs over 12 weeks.²

Per Dr. Chao,"the average Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) scores after treatment were 84.4 ± 15.2, 108.3 ± 3.9, 107.4 ± 5.4, and 107 ± 6.0 in the exercise rehabilitation, diclofenac, naproxen, and celecoxib groups, respectively."

This demonstrates profoundly increased symptomatic relief from customized training versus all drugs tested.

The tailored physical therapy yielded statistically significant superior improvements in joint pain, stiffness and physical function compared to all medication groups as measured by standard Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Lysholm knee surveys.³ The exercise group also experienced greater gains in overall wellbeing, quality of life and knee range of motion.

This pioneering study supports a pivot in knee osteoarthritis care away from risky anti-inflammatories towards exercise and active self-management as first line treatment. The trial cements exercise therapy’s prime role for durably improving function and quality of life in knee arthritis sufferers without drugs.

For more information on the profound, evidence-based health benefits of exercise, visit our database on the subject here.

For natural approaches to osteoarthritis, visit our database on the subject

here.

On the dangers of NSAIDs, visit our database on the subject here.