Research
Mixed
Exercise programs (strength, aerobic, flexibility, or neuromotor) of adequate dosage with progression tailored to physical function improve pain and function in hip and knee osteoarthritis.
Start an exercise program tailored to your current ability. It can include strength, aerobic, flexibility, or neuromotor exercises. Progress gradually. Exercise is safe and effective for reducing pain and improving function in osteoarthritis.
WeakSupportsHIGH confidence
All people with hip or knee OA should be offered an exercise programme (eg, strength, aerobic, flexibility or neuromotor) of adequate dosage with progression tailored to their physical function, preferences and available services.
Why this rating
Level of Evidence 1a for most exercise recommendations.
Source
EULAR recommendations for the non-pharmacological core management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: 2023 update
Tuva Moseng et al. · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases · 2024
DOI 10.1136/ard-2023-225041
clinical_guidelineCited 265×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Multicomponent non-pharmacological management (combining exercise, education, and weight management) yields larger improvements in pain and function than single interventions for hip and knee osteoarthritis.Weak
- Weight loss interventions (diet, multifocused weight loss, or bariatric surgery) reduce pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis, with bariatric surgery being the most effective pain-reducing intervention.Weak
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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