2016 OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis: Intra-articular corticosteroids in addition to exercise for reducing pain sensitivity in knee osteoarthritis: exploratory outcome from a randomized controlled trial

100 patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were randomized to receive an intra-articular injection of either methylprednisolone or saline placebo. The purpose of the study was to determine whether an intra-articular injection of corticosteroid prior to exercise therapy significantly reduced pressure-pain sensitivity when compared to a saline injection. The findings of the study indicated that the use of a single corticosteroid injection did not yield any significant differences in pressure-pain threshold or temporal summation of pain when compared to placebo.