The effects of manual therapy or exercise therapy or both in people with hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Seven randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of exercise therapy and/or manual therapy relative to control intervention for patients with hip osteoarthritis were included in this meta-analysis. Control groups among the included studies ranged from usual care from general practitioners, patient education, and waiting list control. High-quality evidence indicated that exercise therapy significantly improved pain and physical function post-treatment and at follow-up compared to control interventions. While manual therapy and combined treatment both demonstrated efficacy compared to control at some time points, these results were based on low-quality evidence and were limited by the number of trials available.