Knee Braces and Water Therapy Outperform High-Tech Options in Large Osteoarthritis Review
A network meta-analysis of 139 trials involving nearly 10,000 patients indicates that simple, low-cost interventions like knee braces, hydrotherapy, and regular exercise are the most effective non-drug treatments for knee osteoarthritis. These methods significantly reduce pain and stiffness while improving mobility, often outperforming high-tech alternatives such as ultrasound. The findings suggest that accessible physical therapies may offer safer alternatives to anti-inflammatory medications, which carry gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks, though researchers note that varying trial designs limit definitive conclusions.