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. 2025 Jun 27;16:1561697. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1561697

Effect of high-intensity training on improving knee flexion strength and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Bo Zhai 1,*, Yu Wang 2, Zhongliang Zhang 1, Qiang Wang 1
PMCID: PMC12245925  PMID: 40656902

Abstract

Objectives

Whether high-intensity exercise can effectively improve the symptoms and quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis has not been determined. This study updates the evidence on the efficacy of high-intensity training for patients with knee osteoarthritis by integrating all large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane through November 2024. Outcomes assessed included Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), 6-min walk test (6-MWT), knee flexion strength, knee extension strength, leg press strength, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (pain, symptoms, and QoL), stair climbing test, and timed-up-and-go (TUG). Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to pool continuous variables. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess result stability. Analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4 and STATA 15.1.

Results

Nine RCTs with 1,540 patients were included. The average age of the patients ranged from 59.1 to 69 years. Meta-analysis showed significant improvements in knee flexion strength (SMD: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.70), leg press strength (SMD: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.70), KOOS symptoms (SMD: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.35), and KOOS QoL (SMD: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.45) in the high-intensity exercise group compared to the control. However, high-intensity exercise had no significant effect on WOMAC, 6-MWT, knee extension strength, KOOS pain, stair climbing, or TUG.

Conclusion

High-intensity exercise significantly improves knee flexion strength, leg press strength, and KOOS symptoms and QoL in knee osteoarthritis patients. Given the study’s limitations, further large-scale, multicenter RCTs are needed to confirm the rehabilitation effects and potential influencing factors of high-intensity exercise.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/

Keywords: high-intensity, exercise, knee osteoarthritis, RCTs, meta-analysis

1 Introduction

Chronic knee osteoarthritis is prevalent in middle-aged and elderly individuals. With an aging population, its prevalence and incidence are increasing, and it carries a 53% disability rate, contributing significantly to the economic burden (Cross et al., 2014; O’Sullivan, 2024). The main symptoms include knee pain, stiffness, functional impairment, and limited mobility (Lo et al., 2018). Reduced physical activity accelerates age-related muscle loss, particularly in the knee area, leading to sarcopenia (Sayer et al., 2013). Weakened muscle strength around the knee and increased cartilage wear can trigger symptoms such as inflammation and joint instability, raising the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome. This creates a vicious cycle, exacerbating the patient’s condition and ultimately leading to immobility, disability, and health complications (Yoshimura et al., 2012). The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) recommends strength training, aerobic exercise, adherence to national physical activity guidelines, and weight loss to manage knee osteoarthritis (Jones et al., 2015). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Tanaka et al., 2015; Uthman et al., 2014) have shown that exercise improves body composition, physical function, metabolic health, and quality of life in middle-aged and elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis. Exercise regimens typically involve medium to low-intensity strength training, aerobic training, and sessions lasting 30–60 min. These routines can be monotonous, making adherence challenging for many patients. Recent studies suggest that high-intensity training may be more effective than moderate or low-intensity options (Casaña et al., 2019; Keogh et al., 2017).

Currently, two common exercise interventions for improving mobility and aerobic capacity are moderate-intensity training and high-intensity training. Moderate-intensity training primarily involves moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), which consists of continuous exercise at 64%–75% of maximum heart rate (HRmax) or 40%–59% of reserve heart rate (HRR). The most common form of high-intensity training is high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which alternates between brief, intense bursts and longer recovery periods on a shorter interval basis (Boyne et al., 2016). Studies have shown that HIIT outperforms low- and medium-intensity exercise in improving aerobic capacity and other functions in healthy adults and patients with cardiovascular diseases (Chen et al., 2024; Costache et al., 2024; Oliveira et al., 2024; Wang and Wang, 2024). High-intensity exercise is now widely used in the prevention and treatment of chronic conditions such as overweight/obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. It enhances aerobic fitness, insulin sensitivity, and chronic disease management. Additionally, it significantly impacts body fat, blood biomarkers, body composition, and skeletal muscle activation. Its safety, effectiveness, and benefits have been well established (Buchheit and Laursen, 2013; Ross et al., 2016). Research on the use of high-intensity exercise for rehabilitation in patients with chronic knee joint diseases is growing, but the optimal exercise prescription, target groups, and effects remain unclear (Husby et al., 2018; Roxburgh et al., 2024; Thudium et al., 2023).

The meta-analysis by Hua et al. (2023) included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before March 2021. The results showed that high-intensity strength training had effects similar to low-intensity training and usual care in improving knee pain, knee function, and quality of life. However, limitations such as small sample sizes, unexplained heterogeneity, and flaws in study design reduced the quality of evidence in their analysis (Hua et al., 2023). More recently, several large, well-designed randomized controlled trials have reported on the rehabilitation effects of high-intensity exercise for knee osteoarthritis, potentially altering the current understanding of its benefits for this condition (Su et al., 2024; Torstensen et al., 2023; de Zwart et al., 2022; Messier et al., 2021). However, the four recently published large RCTs did not reach completely consistent conclusions. Three of the studies found that high-intensity exercise had no significant advantage in improving the symptoms of patients with knee osteoarthritis (Su et al., 2024; de Zwart et al., 2022; Messier et al., 2021). However, the other one study found that high-intensity exercise was significantly more effective for the improvement of quality of life than low-intensity exercise for patients with knee osteoarthritis (Torstensen et al., 2023). Therefore, this article aims to conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of high-quality randomized controlled trials, clarify the clinical benefits and limitations of high-intensity training for patients with knee osteoarthritis by integrating new evidence, and evaluate the exact effect of high-intensity exercise on the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis. This study hypothesized that high-intensity training would be superior to conventional rehabilitation in terms of improving strength and quality of life.

2 Methods

2.1 Literature search

This meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines (Page et al., 2021) and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024633711). We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane up to November 2024 for RCTs comparing high-intensity exercise with routine rehabilitation for knee osteoarthritis. The search terms included “exercise,” “knee osteoarthritis,” and “high-intensity.” The detailed PubMed search strategy was: ((“Exercise”[Mesh]) OR (Exercises OR Physical Exercise OR Physical Activity OR Aerobic Exercise OR Isometric Exercises OR Acute Exercise OR Exercise Training)) AND (high-intensity)) AND ((“Osteoarthritis, Knee”[Mesh]) OR (Knee Osteoarthritides OR Knee Osteoarthritis)) AND (Random*). We also manually screened the reference lists of included RCTs. Two authors independently retrieved and assessed eligible articles, resolving any discrepancies through discussion. The full search strategy is presented in Supplementary Table S1.

2.2 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Articles were eligible if they met the following criteria:

  • P: Patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.

  • I: High-intensity exercise.

  • C: Routine rehabilitation, including moderate or low-intensity exercise, or no exercise intervention.

  • O: Outcomes such as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), 6-min walk test (6-MWT), knee flexion strength, knee extension strength, leg press strength, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (pain, symptoms, and quality of life (QoL)), stair climbing test, timed-up-and-go (TUG), etc.

  • S: RCTs.

We excluded study protocols, unpublished studies, non-original studies (including meeting abstracts, corrections, and replies), non-RCT studies, studies without sufficient data, and reviews.

2.3 Data abstraction

Two authors independently performed data abstraction, resolving any discrepancies with a third author. The following data were extracted from eligible RCTs: first author name, publication year, study region, study design, registration number, intervention, control, sample size, age, gender, intervention duration, WOMAC, 6-MWT, knee flexion strength, knee extension strength, leg press strength, KOOS (pain, symptoms, and QoL), stair climbing test, and TUG. If data were insufficient, the corresponding authors were contacted to obtain complete data.

2.4 Quality evaluation

The quality of eligible RCTs was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 5.1.0, evaluating seven domains: sequence generation randomization, allocation concealment, blinding of participants and personnel, outcome assessment blinding, incomplete outcome data, selective outcome reporting, and other potential sources of bias (Cumpston et al., 2019). Each study was assigned one of three risk ratings: low, high, or unclear. Studies with more “low-risk” evaluations were considered of higher quality. Two authors independently assessed the quality of all included studies and resolved any disagreements through discussion.

2.5 Statistical analysis

Data synthesis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1. For continuous outcomes, standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used. Heterogeneity across outcomes was assessed using the chi-squared (χ2) test (Cochran’s Q) and the inconsistency index (Higgins and Thompson, 2002). Substantial heterogeneity was defined by a χ2 P value < 0.1 or an I2 > 50%. The overall SMD was calculated using the random-effects model. For outcomes with more than two studies and significant heterogeneity, a sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the impact of each individual RCT on the overall SMD. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger’s regression tests (Egger et al., 1997) in Stata 15.1 (Stata Corp, College Station, Texas, United States) for outcomes with more than ten studies. A P value < 0.05 was considered indicative of statistically significant publication bias.

3 Results

3.1 Literature retrieval, study characteristics, and baseline

Figure 1 presents the flowchart of the literature retrieval and selection process. A total of 449 studies were identified from PubMed (n = 85), Embase (n = 69), Web of Science (n = 81), and Cochrane (n = 214) through systematic literature search. After removing duplicates, 274 titles and abstracts were screened. Ultimately, 9 RCTs (Su et al., 2024; Torstensen et al., 2023; de Zwart et al., 2022; Messier et al., 2021; Bade et al., 2017; Waller et al., 2017; Baker et al., 2001; Keogh et al., 2018; Foroughi et al., 2011) with 1,540 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Table 1 lists the characteristics of the included RCTs. The quality evaluation of all included RCTs is shown in Figure 2. The definition of “high intensity” in various studies is mainly based on one or more of the following methods (Cross et al., 2014): subjective rating of exertion (RPE, ≥7/10 or ≥15/20) (O’Sullivan, 2024); percentage of maximum repetitions (%1RM, ≥70–80%); (Lo et al., 2018); percentage of maximum heart rate (%HRmax, ≥80%) (Sayer et al., 2013); percentage of heart rate reserve (%HRR, ≥75%) (Yoshimura et al., 2012); reaching or approaching exhaustion (Jones et al., 2015); based on the maximum intensity tolerated by the individual. Training forms vary, including machine resistance training (such as leg press, knee flexion and extension machine), circuit training, bicycle interval training, water resistance training, and progressive training at home. Training frequency is mostly 2–3 times a week, and the duration of a single training session (excluding warm-up and cool-down) is usually between 20–60 min. The duration of the “working” period of high-intensity interval training varies from 30 s to 4 min, and the rest interval is mostly 45–90 s or active recovery (low intensity) is used.

FIGURE 1.

Flowchart depicting the selection process for a study. Initially, 449 records were identified through database searching, with none from other sources. After removing duplicates, 175 records remained. Following screening, 274 records were assessed, with 261 excluded due to various reasons. Thirteen articles were assessed for eligibility, with four excluded. Ultimately, nine studies were included in both qualitative and quantitative synthesis.

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Flowchart of the systematic search and selection process.

TABLE 1.

Characteristics of included studies.

Study Region Study design Intervention Intervention time Control Sample size Mean/median age No. of male Mean/median BMI
High-intensity Control High-intensity Control High-intensity Control High-intensity Control
Bade 2017 United States RCT High-intensity progressive rehabilitation 11 weeks Low-intensity rehabilitation 84 78 63 64 39 (46.4%) 34 (43.6%) 31 30
Baker 2001 United States RCT Home based progressive strength training program 4 months Nutrition education program 23 23 69 68 6 (26.1%) 4 (17.4%) 31 32
de Zwart 2022 Netherlands RCT High-intensity resistance training 12 weeks Low-intensity resistance training 89 88 67.3 67.9 32 (36.0%) 38 (43.2%) 28.6 27.7
Foroughi 2011 Australia RCT High intensity progressive resistance training 6 months Sham-exercise program 26 28 66 65 0 0 31.4 32.7
Keogh 2018 Australia RCT High-intensity interval training 8 weeks Moderate-intensity continuous training 9 8 59.1 66.1 3 (33.3%) 1 (12.5%) 27 28.2
Messie 2021a United States RCT High-intensity strength training 18 months Low-intensity strength training 127 126 67 64 75 (59.1%) 75 (59.5%) 31 31
Messie 2021b United States RCT High-intensity strength training 18 months Attention control 127 124 67 64 75 (59.1%) 76 (61.3%) 31 32
Su 2024a China RCT Threshold training/high-intensive stationary cycling training 6 months Intensive endurance/moderate-intensive stationary cycling training 76 77 61.4 61.7 36 (47.4%) 37 (48.1%) 30.8 30.3
Su 2024b China RCT Threshold training/high-intensive stationary cycling training 6 months Regular rehabilitation programs 76 75 61.4 61.2 36 (47.4%) 39 (52%) 30.8 30.1
Torstensen 2023 Sweden RCT High-dose exercise therapy 12 weeks Low-dose exercise therapy 98 91 63.1 62 41 (41.8%) 42 (46.2%) 27.8 28.1
Waller 2017 Finland RCT Supervised intensive aquatic resistance training sessions 4 months Normal physical activity 43 44 63.8 63.9 0 0 26.6 27.1
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FIGURE 2.

Bar chart and matrix illustrating risk of bias across multiple studies. The bar chart shows various bias categories with color-coded risk levels: green for low, yellow for unclear, and black for high. The matrix lists studies on the vertical axis, bias categories on the horizontal, using colored symbols to represent risk status.

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Details of the quality evaluation for included RCTs. (a) Risk bias of summary; (b) Risk bias of graph.

3.2 Effects of high-intensity exercise on improving muscle strength

3.2.1 WOMAC

WOMAC results were synthesized from 7 RCTs with 960 patients. The meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in WOMAC changes between the two groups (SMD: −0.02; 95% CI: −0.19, 0.15; P = 0.85), with no significant heterogeneity (I2 = 36%, P = 0.15) (Figure 3a).

FIGURE 3.

Forest plots displaying the standardized mean differences and confidence intervals for three meta-analyses labeled a, b, and c. Each plot compares high-intensity and control groups across multiple studies. Plot a shows minimal effect favoring control; plot b shows an effect favoring high-intensity but not statistically significant; plot c shows a significant positive effect favoring high-intensity. Heterogeneity and overall effect statistics are provided below each plot.

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Forest plots of (a) WOMAC, (b) 6-MWT, (c) knee flexion strength.

3.2.2 6-MWT

6-MWT results were synthesized from 4 RCTs with 843 patients. The meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in 6-MWT changes between the two groups (SMD: 0.59; 95% CI: −0.19, 1.37; P = 0.14), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 97%, P < 0.00001) (Figure 3b).

3.2.3 Knee flexion strength

Knee flexion strength results were synthesized from 5 RCTs with 781 patients. The meta-analysis revealed a significantly higher increment in knee flexion strength in the high-intensity exercise group (SMD: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.70; P = 0.01), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 75%, P = 0.003) (Figure 3c).

3.2.4 Knee extension strength

Knee extension strength results were synthesized from 3 RCTs with 277 patients. The meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in knee extension strength changes between the two groups (SMD: 0.40; 95% CI: −0.18, 0.98; P = 0.18), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 78%, P = 0.01) (Figure 4a).

FIGURE 4.

Four forest plots labeled a, b, c, and d, each comparing high-intensity to control groups across studies. Plots display mean differences with 95% confidence intervals and heterogeneity statistics, showing variable results. Panel a indicates a non-significant effect, panel b shows a significant positive effect for high-intensity, panel c displays a non-significant result, and panel d shows a non-significant negative effect.

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Forest plots of (a) knee extension strength, (b) leg press strength, (c) stair climbing test, (d) TUG.

3.2.5 Leg press strength

Leg press strength results were synthesized from 3 RCTs with 277 patients. The meta-analysis revealed a significantly higher increment in leg press strength in the high-intensity exercise group (SMD: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.70; P = 0.0001), with no significant heterogeneity (I2 = 0%, P = 0.98) (Figure 4b).

3.2.6 Stair climbing test

Stair climbing test results were synthesized from 2 RCTs with 339 patients. The meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in stair climbing performance between the two groups (SMD: −0.89; 95% CI: −2.49, 0.70; P = 0.27), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 98%, P < 0.00001) (Figure 4c).

3.2.7 TUG

TUG results were synthesized from 2 RCTs with 179 patients. The meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in TUG performance between the two groups (SMD: −1.51; 95% CI: −3.38, 0.36; P = 0.11), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 92%, P = 0.0004) (Figure 4d).

3.3 Effect of high-intensity exercise on improving patients’ quality of life

3.3.1 KOOS pain

KOOS pain results were synthesized from 4 RCTs with 580 patients. The meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in KOOS pain changes between the two groups (SMD: 0.19; 95% CI: −0.16, 0.55; P = 0.28), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 78%, P = 0.004) (Figure 5a).

FIGURE 5.

Three forest plots comparing high-intensity to control groups. Plot (a) shows a standardized mean difference of 0.19 with confidence intervals. Plot (b) shows a difference of 0.18. Plot (c) indicates a difference of 0.29. Each plot includes individual study data and overall effect estimates, with heterogeneity statistics.

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Forest plots of (a) KOOS pain, (b) KOOS symptoms, (c) KOOS QoL.

3.3.2 KOOS symptoms

KOOS symptoms results were synthesized from 4 RCTs with 580 patients. The meta-analysis revealed a significantly higher increment in KOOS symptoms in the high-intensity exercise group (SMD: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.35; P = 0.03), with no significant heterogeneity (I2 = 0%, P = 1.00) (Figure 5b).

3.3.3 KOOS QoL

KOOS QoL results were synthesized from 4 RCTs with 580 patients. The meta-analysis revealed a significantly higher increment in KOOS QoL in the high-intensity exercise group (SMD: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.45; P = 0.0005), with no significant heterogeneity (I2 = 0%, P = 0.41) (Figure 5c).

3.4 Sensitivity analysis

Given the significant heterogeneity, we conducted a sensitivity analysis for the results of 6-MWT, knee flexion strength, knee extension strength, and KOOS pain to assess the impact of each RCT on the overall SMD by sequentially excluding eligible RCTs. The sensitivity analysis showed that the total SMD remained stable after excluding each RCT for 6-MWT (Supplementary Figure S1A) and KOOS pain (Supplementary Figure S1B). However, excluding Messier et al. (2021) caused the significant difference in knee flexion strength to become nonsignificant (SMD: 0.41; 95% CI: −0.01, 0.83), indicating substantial instability in this outcome (Supplementary Figure S1C). Additionally, excluding de Zwart et al. (2022) caused the nonsignificant difference in knee extension strength to become significant (SMD: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.21, 1.13), suggesting considerable instability in this outcome (Supplementary Figure S1D). Sensitivity analysis also identified the main sources of heterogeneity: Bade et al. (2017) for 6-MWT, Baker et al. (2001) for knee flexion strength, de Zwart et al. (2022) for knee extension strength, and Su et al. (2024) for KOOS pain.

4 Discussion

International guidelines recommend managing knee osteoarthritis through the promotion of physical activity and regular exercise participation (Lane et al., 2015). Dunlop et al. (2019) and Dunlop et al. (2014) demonstrated that 1 h of moderate-intensity vigorous activity per week reduces the disability rate in knee osteoarthritis, with risk decreasing as activity levels increase. Although MICT rehabilitation has been traditionally recommended for knee osteoarthritis patients, recent studies suggest that high-intensity exercise may offer greater benefits (Keogh et al., 2018). Previous meta-analyses did not show a significant advantage of high-intensity exercise, which contrasts with recent findings from high-quality RCTs. However, the latest RCT results of Torstensen et al. suggest that high-intensity exercise is significantly superior to low-intensity exercise in improving the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis (Torstensen et al., 2023). This study aims to conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of all published high-quality randomized controlled trials to evaluate the precise effect of high-intensity exercise on the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis patients.

This study found that high-intensity exercise significantly improved knee flexion strength, leg press strength, KOOS symptoms, and KOOS QoL compared to conventional rehabilitation. These results suggest that incorporating high-intensity exercise into conventional rehabilitation enhances lower limb muscle and joint strength, while improving clinical symptoms and overall quality of life, aligning with the conclusions of recent RCTs (Su et al., 2024; Torstensen et al., 2023; de Zwart et al., 2022; Messier et al., 2021). However, the conclusions of this study differ from those of the meta-analysis by Hua et al. (2023), which found that high-intensity strength training did not improve muscle strength or symptoms compared to low-intensity training and conventional rehabilitation. This discrepancy is primarily due to differences in sample size and study quality. This study included a larger sample and higher-quality RCTs with strong design and complete follow-up, resulting in superior evidence quality.

This meta-analysis found no significant advantage of high-intensity exercise in improving WOMAC, 6-MWT, knee extension strength, KOOS pain, stair climbing test, and TUG in patients with knee osteoarthritis, consistent with the findings of Hua et al. (2023). However, sensitivity analysis revealed significant instability in knee extension strength. Excluding the data of de Zwart et al. (2022) changed the result from nonsignificant to significant and reduced the heterogeneity from 78% to 21%. This suggests that high-intensity exercise may have some effect on knee extension strength, but further large-scale RCTs are needed for confirmation. In conclusion, although high-intensity exercise has limited efficacy in improving disease-specific symptoms and cardiopulmonary function in knee osteoarthritis patients, the small number of studies and limited evidence quality highlight the need for further research to validate these findings. These analyses show that the effects of high-intensity training on different outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis are heterogeneous and are significantly affected by the characteristics of the study population (including whether they are postoperative and whether they have comorbidities), the details of the specific intervention program (including the intensity definition threshold, training mode, degree of supervision, and period length), and the type of control group. These factors must be considered when interpreting the results of this meta-analysis and designing future research or clinical programs. Future studies need to report and standardize the definition of “high intensity” more accurately and conduct in-depth exploration of specific subpopulations and specific intervention models.

Historically, high-intensity training prescriptions included warm-up exercises, strength training, interval recovery, and relaxation (Gil et al., 2014). Patients with knee osteoarthritis can engage in various forms of exercise, such as running (Bartlett et al., 2018), walking (Fenton et al., 2018), machine exercise (Casaña et al., 2019; Bade and Stevens-Lapsley, 2011), freehand exercise (Casaña et al., 2019), cycling (Thomsen et al., 2018), and aquatic training (de Ruiter et al., 2017). These exercises typically last 6–12 weeks (Keogh et al., 2018; Thomsen et al., 2018), with 2–4 sessions per week, and consist of multiple short bursts of high-intensity training (30 s–4 min) in each session. An appropriate interval of 45–90 s is recommended between training sessions, which can be adjusted based on the patient’s condition. During this interval, low- to medium-intensity exercises or complete rest are performed. The total exercise time is typically short, not exceeding 30 min. Exercise intensity is primarily based on the patient’s subjective tolerance of maximum intensity (Bade and Stevens-Lapsley, 2011). Aquatic training programs effectively reduce the load on the knee joint but are challenging to implement in clinical settings and are costly. Machine exercises require specialized equipment and professional guidance. In contrast, running, walking, and freehand exercises are easy to perform and are not limited by environmental or time constraints. However, home-based exercise programs often lack objective data on the frequency, duration, and intensity of exercise performed by participants, which hinders the quantification of the dose-response relationship and the evaluation of feasibility and efficacy. Future studies could incorporate tools such as heart rate monitors and cycle ergometers to objectively record exercise intensity.

The safety of high-intensity training has been demonstrated in other chronic diseases (Hussain et al., 2016), but there is limited research on its effects on musculoskeletal health, muscle mass, strength, or function in patients with chronic arthritis (Sandstad et al., 2015). One factor contributing to this research gap is the concern about the safety of high-intensity exercise for patients with knee disease, particularly when performed unsupervised at home or in a fitness center. High-intensity exercise may result in musculoskeletal issues such as muscle strain, joint pain, and swelling (Liu and Latham, 2010). However, Sandstad et al. (2015) found no exercise-related adverse effects in a 10-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program. Bade et al. (2017) reported that high-intensity training was safe and feasible for patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery, with no muscle damage observed. Conversely, Regnaux et al. (2015) noted that 17 out of 1,000 participants reported adverse effects associated with high-intensity exercise, with nearly 2% experiencing adverse reactions, although no serious events were recorded. Keogh et al. (2018) reported adverse events in three out of 27 patients (one in the MICT group and two in the HIIT group) during an 8-week program of four training sessions per week. A total of 28 adverse event reports were made, with 24 attributed to one HIIT participant. These findings suggest that, even with strict inclusion criteria, a small number of patients may still experience adverse effects, making the safety of HIIT in patients with knee osteoarthritis a subject of ongoing debate. Future research should focus on determining whether patients with knee osteoarthritis who retain ambulatory function can benefit significantly from high-intensity training.

5 Clinical implications

Based on the results of this study, clinicians should encourage patients with knee osteoarthritis who retain walking function to participate in structured high-intensity training to improve muscle strength and quality of life. This study found that high-intensity training can significantly improve knee flexion strength and leg press strength, and improve KOOS symptoms and quality of life. For patients without obvious joint deformity (Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≤ III), BMI < 30, and no severe cardiovascular disease, a progressive structured program is recommended: initially, equipment resistance training is performed under the supervision of a rehabilitation therapist, and gradually transitions to home training. Pain response should be monitored during training, and the load should be adjusted every 4 weeks to avoid a plateau effect. It is worth noting that although high-intensity training did not significantly improve pain scores and cardiopulmonary function, its advantages in delaying muscle attenuation and maintaining daily activity ability make it a supplementary program for traditional low- and medium-intensity rehabilitation. In clinical practice, high-intensity resistance training can be combined with neuromuscular control exercises to form a synergistic intervention model to optimize long-term prognosis. In the future, it is necessary to further develop stratified training guidelines to clarify the intensity thresholds for patients at different stages of the disease course.

6 Limitations and strength

We must acknowledge several limitations of this meta-analysis. First, due to the inherent limitations of exercise intervention studies, only 36% of the nine included RCTs had a low risk of blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias), which may somewhat affect the reliability of the evidence. Second, the included RCTs varied in intervention measures (e.g., different high-intensity exercise methods, durations, and frequencies), which could introduce potential heterogeneity. Third, due to the limited number of studies, this meta-analysis was unable to analyze the effects of high-intensity exercise on other factors such as psychological state and motor function in patients with knee osteoarthritis, which warrants further research. Additionally, due to data limitations, subgroup analyses based on intervention methods, intensity, duration, frequency, age, race, and other factors were not feasible, preventing us from determining how these variables might influence the results. Fourth, most of the included studies were from European and American countries, with limited data from regions such as Asia and Africa. Therefore, the generalizability of these findings to global populations remains uncertain. Besides, the control groups included in the studies included low-intensity training, routine care, and no intervention, which may affect the extrapolation of the results. It is recommended that future studies adopt a standardized control design. At the same time, considering that most of the original studies included in this meta-analysis are short-term intervention experiments, more RCTs with longer intervention periods (such as more than 12 weeks or half a year) are needed in the future to observe the long-term effects of continuous training. Furthermore, future studies should collect or include more objective indicators (such as imaging, gait analysis, inflammatory biomarkers, etc.) to evaluate the rehabilitation effects of high-intensity training from multiple perspectives. Despite these limitations, this updated meta-analysis of high-quality RCTs overcomes previous challenges, such as small sample sizes and study design flaws. It confirms the effectiveness of high-intensity exercise for the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis patients and provides valuable, evidence-based insights for clinical exercise rehabilitation.

7 Conclusion

This study found that high-intensity exercise significantly improves knee flexion strength, leg press strength, KOOS symptoms, and KOOS QoL in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, it had no significant effect on WOMAC, 6-MWT, knee extension strength, KOOS pain, stair climbing test, or TUG. Clinicians should encourage knee osteoarthritis patients with preserved walking function to engage in structured high-intensity training to enhance muscle strength and quality of life. Given the limitations of this study, including a small number of included studies, regional selection bias, and potential outcome instability, further large-sample, multicenter RCTs are needed to confirm the rehabilitation effects of high-intensity exercise and identify influencing factors in this patient population.

Funding Statement

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Author contributions

BZ: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Project administration, Software, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. YW: Investigation, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft. ZZ: Formal Analysis, Investigation, Supervision, Writing – original draft. QW: Investigation, Software, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Generative AI statement

The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1561697/full#supplementary-material

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Supplementary Materials

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Data Availability Statement

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