Yoga vs strengthening exercises for knee osteoarthritis

Yoga is as effective as knee strengthening exercises in reducing pain and improving function and stiffness in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Yoga also has the added benefit of improving quality of life and mental well-being.

 

Osteoarthritis is a common musculoskeletal disorder affecting over 595 million people worldwide. Exercise therapy is widely recommended as the first-line treatment for managing knee OA. An Australian study published in JAMA Network Open analysed the comparative effectiveness of yoga and strengthening exercises over a 24-week period.

 

The study involved 117 adults aged 40 years or older with knee OA, 72.6 per cent of whom were female. Participants were randomly assigned to either a yoga or strengthening exercise group. For the first 12 weeks, both groups attended two supervised sessions and one home-based session per week. This was followed by three unsupervised home-based sessions per week for the next 12 weeks.

 

Both groups reported similar reduction in knee pain at 12 weeks. However, by 24 weeks, the yoga group demonstrated modestly greater improvements in pain, function, stiffness and performance in a fast-paced walk test as well as quality of life and symptoms of depression. No significant adverse effects were reported in either group.

 

“Integrating yoga as an alternative or complementary exercise option in clinical practice may help in managing knee osteoarthritis,” the study concluded.

Health