A Randomized Trial of Physical Therapy for Meniscal Tear and Knee Pain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Physical therapy is routinely recommended for knee pain attributed to a degenerative meniscal tear, but its efficacy has not been established.

Methods

We randomly assigned participants 45 to 85 years of age with knee pain, osteoarthritis, and meniscal tear to one of four groups: home exercise (3-month home-exercise program), home exercise plus text messages to encourage exercise adherence, home exercise plus text messages plus sham physical therapy (in-clinic sham manual therapy and sham ultrasound therapy), and home exercise plus text messages plus standard physical therapy (supervised strengthening, functional, and stretching exercises and manual therapy). The primary outcome was the change in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain subscore

SUBMITTER: Katz JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12614259 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature