Physical therapy vs. glucocorticoid injection in patients with meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis: a multi-center, randomized, controlled trial.
OrthoEvidence Journal (OE Journal) - ACE Report
OE Journal. 2025;13(13):13 BMC Med . 2025 May 9;23(1):277.What this means for my practice?
Physical therapy, including core stability and strengthening exercises, provided greater improvements in pain, function, mobility, and balance than glucocorticoid injections over one year in patients with meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis. These findings support prioritizing structured physical therapy as a frontline intervention in this population. However, the study was limited by its single-country design and absence of a no-treatment control, which may affect generalizability.
Study Summary
Two hundred eighty-seven patients with radiographically confirmed knee osteoarthritis and MRI-verified meniscal tears were randomized to receive either physical therapy (n=143) or intra-articular glucocorticoid injection (n=144). The primary outcome was the total WOMAC score at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included VAS pain score, SF-36 quality of life score, range of motion, proprioception tests, and adverse events. Outcomes were assessed at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months. Overall, the results of the study revealed significantly greater improvements in WOMAC scores, pain, quality of life, and proprioception in the physical therapy group. The study concludes that physical therapy was more effective than glucocorticoid injections in improving function and symptoms over one year in this population.
Unlock the Full ACE Report
You have access to 4 more FREE articles this month.
Click below to unlock and view this ACE Reports
Unlock Now
Critical appraisals of the latest, high-impact randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in orthopaedics
Access to OrthoEvidence podcast content, including collaborations with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, interviews with internationally recognized surgeons, and roundtable discussions on orthopaedic news and topics
Subscription to The Pulse, a twice-weekly evidence-based newsletter designed to help you make better clinical decisions
Exclusive access to original content articles, including in-house systematic reviews, and articles on health research methods and hot orthopaedic topics
Or upgrade today and gain access to all OrthoEvidencecontent for as little as $1.99 per week.
Already have an account? Log in
Are you affiliated with one of our partner associations?
Click here to gain complimentary access as part your association member benefits!
0 of 4 monthly FREE articles unlocked
