PHYSICAL THERAPY is BETTER than STEROID INJECTION for KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis (OA) of knees is a common disease, affecting people in their middle and old ages. The commonest symptom is knee pain, which increases on standing and walking. OA is a common cause of disability.
Treatment for OA includes: 1. Pain killer medicines, 2. Steroid injections in knee joint, 3. Physical therapy, 4. Knee replacement surgery.
In a recent research, a comparison was made between physiotherapy and steroid injection in knee, to decide which is better.
78 patients (mean age 56 years) each were assigned to either physiotherapy or steroid injection in knee. At the end of one year, group that received physical therapy had lesser pain and lesser functional disability.
Conclusions
1. Physical therapy is superior to steroid injection in knee for patients suffering from osteoarthritis.
2. People with OA, who receive physiotherapy have lesser pain and better functional ability, as compared to those who take steroid injection in the knees.
(Source: NEJM, April 9, 2020).
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1905877
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad
