People With Knee Osteoarthritis Attending Physical Therapy Have Broad Education Needs and Prioritize Information About Surgery and Exercise: A Concept Mapping Study

One and Done? The Effectiveness of a Single Session of Physiotherapy Compared With Multiple Sessions to Reduce Pain and Improve Function and Quality of Life in Patients With a Musculoskeletal Disorder: A Systematic Review With Meta-analyses

OBJECTIVE

To compare single and multiple physiotherapy sessions to improve pain, function, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs).

DATA SOURCES

AMED, Cinahl, SportsDiscus, Medline, Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and reference lists.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing single and multiple physiotherapy sessions for MSKDs.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias and certainty of evidence using Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0 and Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Six RCTs (n=2090) were included (conditions studied: osteoporotic vertebral fracture, neck, knee, and shoulder pain). Meta-analyses with low-certainty evidence showed a significant pain improvement at 6 months in favor of multiple sessions compared with single session interventions (3 RCTs; n=1035; standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.53; P=.02) but this significant difference in pain improvement was not observed at 3 months (4 RCTs; n=1312; SMD: 0.39; 95% CI: -0.11 to 0.89; P=.13) and at 12 months (4 RCTs; n=1266; SMD: -0.05; 95% CI: -0.49 to 0.39; P=.82). Meta-analyses with low-certainty evidence showed no significant differences in function at 3 (4 RCTs; n=1583; SMD: 0.05; 95% CI: -0.11 to 0.21; P=.56), 6 (4 RCTs; n=1538; SMD: 0.06; 95% CI: -0.12 to 0.23; P=.53) and 12 months (4 RCTs; n=1528; SMD: 0.08; 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.25; P=.30) and QoL at 3 (4 RCTs; n=1779; SMD: 0.08; 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.17; P=.12), 6 (3 RCTs; n=1206; SMD: 0.03; 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.14; P=.59), and 12 months (4 RCTs; n=1729; SMD: -0.03; 95% CI: -0.12 to 0.07; P=.58).

CONCLUSIONS

Low certainty meta-analyses found no clinically significant differences in pain, function, and QoL between single and multiple physiotherapy sessions for MSKD management for the conditions studied. Future research should compare the cost-effectiveness of those different models of care.

Recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines

OBJECTIVES

Guideline adherence for hip and knee osteoarthritis management is often poor, possibly related to the quality and/or inconsistent recommendations. This systematic review of hip and knee osteoarthritis guidelines aimed to appraise the quality and consistency in recommendations across higher-quality guidelines.

METHODS

Eight databases, guideline repositories, and professional associations websites were searched on 27/10/2022. Guideline quality was appraised using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II tool) (six domains). Higher quality was defined as scoring ≥60% for domains 3 (rigour of development), 6 (editorial independence), plus one other. Consistency in recommendations across higher-quality guidelines was reported descriptively. This review was registered prospectively (CRD42021216154).

RESULTS

Seven higher-quality and 18 lesser-quality guidelines were included. AGREE II domain scores for higher-quality guidelines were > 60% except for applicability (average 46%). Higher-quality guidelines consistently recommended in favour of education, exercise, and weight management and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (hip and knee), and intra-articular corticosteroid injections (knee). Higher quality guidelines consistently recommended against hyaluronic acid (hip) and stem cell (hip and knee) injections. Other pharmacological recommendations in higher-quality guidelines (e.g., paracetamol, intra-articular corticosteroid (hip), hyaluronic acid (knee)) and adjunctive treatments (e.g., acupuncture) were less consistent. Arthroscopy was consistently recommended against in higher-quality guidelines. No higher-quality guidelines considered arthroplasty.

CONCLUSION

Higher-quality guidelines for hip and knee osteoarthritis consistently recommend clinicians implement exercise, education, and weight management, alongside consideration of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and intra-articular corticosteroid injections (knee). Lack of consensus on some pharmacological options and adjunctive treatments creates challenges for guideline adherence. Future guidelines must prioritise providing implementation guidance, considering consistently low applicability scores.

Exercise Therapy for Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: Is There An Ideal Prescription?

Purpose of review

Exercise therapy is the first line treatment for patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) but is consistently underutilized. In this review, we aim to provide health care professionals with an overview of the latest evidence in the areas of exercise therapy for OA, which can serve as a guide for incorporating the ideal exercise therapy prescription in the overall management plan for their patients with OA.

Recent findings

Evidence continues to be produced supporting the use of exercise therapy for all patients with knee or hip OA. Ample evidence exists suggesting exercise therapy is a safe form of treatment, for both joint structures and the patient overall. Several systematic reviews show that exercise therapy is likely to improve patient outcomes, regardless of disease severity or comorbidities. However, no single type of exercise therapy is superior to others.

Summary

Health care practitioners and patients should be encouraged to incorporate exercise therapy into treatment plans and can be assured of the safety profile and likelihood of improvement in important patient outcomes. Since no single exercise therapy program shows vastly superior benefit, patient preference and contextual factors should be central to the shared decision-making process when selecting and individualising appropriate exercise therapy prescriptions.

Virtual Tools to Enable Management of Knee Osteoarthritis

Purpose of review

There is increasing recognition that virtual tools, enabled by the internet and telecommunications technology, can increase access to health care. We review evidence about the clinical effectiveness and acceptability of telephone-delivered and videoconferencing clinician consultations, websites and internet-delivered programs, and SMS and mobile applications in enabling the management of people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). We discuss barriers to using virtual tools and suggest strategies to facilitate implementation in clinical settings.

Recent findings

An increasing number of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical trials provide evidence showing the effectiveness of virtual tools for improving knee OA management. Qualitative research shows that virtual tools increase patient access to knee OA care, are generally acceptable and convenient for patients, but can be associated with barriers to use from patient and clinician perspectives.

Summary

Virtual tools offer new opportunities to enable people with knee OA to manage their condition and receive care that may otherwise be difficult or not possible to access. Telephone calls and videoconferencing can be used for real-time synchronous consultations between clinicians and patients, increasing the geographic reach of health services. Websites and internet-based programs can be used to educate patients about their condition, as well as deliver exercise, weight management, and psychological interventions. Mobile apps can monitor and track OA symptoms, exercise, and physical activity, while SMS can facilitate positive behaviour changes for self-management over the long-term when sustained clinician contact may not be possible.

Physical Therapists Prioritize Providing Education About Exercise Therapy and to Dispel Misconceptions About Radiology for People With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Concept Mapping Study

OBJECTIVE

To (1) identify the education priorities that physical therapists have for people with knee osteoarthritis, including perceived importance and capability to provide, and (2) match priorities to education-specific content recommendations in knee osteoarthritis guidelines.

DESIGN

Concept mapping methodology.

METHODS

Physical therapists generated, sorted (based on themes), and rated (5-point Likert scales: importance and capability) patient education priorities. Priorities were matched against education-specific content recommendations in knee osteoarthritis guidelines. Additional education-specific content recommendations were added from guidelines and expert opinion if necessary. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis produced a cluster map with overarching domains.

RESULTS

Physical therapists (brainstorming, n = 41; sorting, n = 20; rating, n = 22) generated 56 priorities, with 13 added (n = 2 from guidelines, n = 11 from expert opinion). Few priorities were clearly included as education-specific content recommendations in guidelines (ACR [2%, n = 1/56], EULAR [14%, 8/56], NICE [11%, 6/56], and OARSI [0%, 0/56]). An 8-cluster map emerged with 3 overarching domains: (i) first-line care (exercise therapy, lifestyle modification and general health, and weight management), (ii) knowledge formation and countering misconceptions (radiology misconceptions, understanding and managing pain and disability, and general beliefs and understanding about osteoarthritis), and (iii) decision making for medical management (surgery and medications). The exercise therapy cluster was rated the highest for both importance (3.84/5) and capability (4.00). The medications and weight management clusters were rated the lowest for importance (2.54) and capability (2.82), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Physical therapists prioritize a range of education topics for people with knee osteoarthritis, focusing on exercise therapy. Physical therapists feel least capable of providing weight management education. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2022;52(9):607-619. Epub: 17 June 2022. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.11090.