Effectiveness of exercise therapy for meniscal lesions in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Twelve studies were included in this meta-analysis and systematic review to determine the effects of exercise therapy in the management of meniscal lesions as a non-operative treatment and as a modality for rehabilitation following meniscectomy compared to other treatments. This summary focused on the results from the meta-analyses conducted in this publication. When exercise therapy alone was compared to isolated meniscectomy/meniscal repair, exercise therapy demonstrated significantly greater strength in extension at 3 months, and no significant differences in short- and long-term pain and function. When exercise therapy was assessed as a rehabilitative treatment following meniscectomy/meniscal repair, standard exercise therapy demonstrated no significant differences in short-term pain and short- and long-term function when compared to alternative exercise therapies (early range of motion, isokinetic exercise, etc). There was limited and conflicting evidence available evaluating exercise therapy and no exercise therapy for rehabilitation following meniscectomy.