Effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation training combined with exercise on patient-reported outcomes measures in people with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

研究概要

This systematic review and meta-analysis included six randomized controlled trials involving 367 patients with knee osteoarthritis, assessing the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with exercise versus exercise alone. Pooled outcomes of interest encompassed pain, self-reported functional ability, stiffness, and physical function. The analysis revealed that NMES combined with exercise was not superior to exercise alone in managing pain. The other outcomes were not poolable. While some studies noted pain relief with NMES, overall, the evidence supports the need for further high-quality clinical trials to substantiate the effectiveness of NMES in clinical practice.