Are Exercise Interventions for People With Knee Osteoarthritis Dosed Appropriately to Meet the World Health Organisation's Physical Activity Guidelines?

Objective: This study aimed to determine the number and proportion of exercise interventions within preexisting clinical trials for people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) that satisfied the World Health Organisation's (WHO) guidelines for physical activity.

Methods: A descriptive analysis of studies included in an umbrella review was undertaken. Data from each exercise intervention relating to the type, dose and intensity of exercise was extracted, and the number and proportion of interventions that satisfied the WHO guidelines (aerobic, muscle strengthening, balance [for studies where the average age was more than 65 years old], a combination or all) was recorded at the study and intervention level.

Results: Data were extracted from 199 studies containing 266 exercise interventions. Overall, only one study (0.5%) satisfied all components of the WHO guidelines. Of the 122 interventions that had an average participant age over 65, none fulfiled all aspects of the WHO guidelines, which included balance. There were 16 (6.0%) and 12 (4.5%) other interventions that satisfied the aerobic or muscle strengthening components of the guidelines, respectively.

Conclusion: This descriptive analysis highlighted the lack of exercise interventions in clinical trials for people with KOA that satisfied the WHO guidelines. Thus, they may not be dosed appropriately to achieve broader health outcomes associated with following the physical activity guidelines.