Table 1.
Attributes of Therapeutic Exercise Interventions (N = 152) in Randomized Controlled Trials of Exercise for Adults (N = 5909) With Knee Osteoarthritisa
| Category | No. of Study Arms (%) | No. of Exercisers (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Total weeks of exercise training | ||
| Unspecified | 1 (0.7) | 30 (0.5) |
| <6 wk | 20 (13.2) | 682 (11.5) |
| ≥6 wk and <12 wk | 50 (32.9) | 1406 (23.8) |
| 12 wk | 48 (31.6) | 2110 (35.7) |
| >12 wk to <52 wk | 27 (17.8) | 1145 (19.4) |
| ≥52 wk | 6 (3.9) | 536 (9.1) |
| Frequency per week | ||
| Unspecified | 6 (3.9) | 147 (2.5) |
| 1-2× | 52 (34.2) | 1899 (32.1) |
| 3× | 80 (52.6) | 3255 (55.1) |
| 4-5× | 11 (7.2) | 511 (8.7) |
| >5× | 3 (2.0) | 97 (1.6) |
| Duration of individual exercise sessions | ||
| Unspecified | 43 (28.3) | 1393 (23.6) |
| <30 min | 14 (9.2) | 695 (11.8) |
| ≥30 min to ≤45 min | 41 (27.0) | 1430 (24.2) |
| >45 to ≤60 min | 52 (34.2) | 2098 (35.5) |
| >60 min | 2 (1.3) | 293 (4.9) |
| Supervised sessions | ||
| Yes, partial | 40 (26.3) | 1796 (30.4) |
| Yes | 112 (73.7) | 4113 (69.6) |
| Modes of exercise | ||
| Unspecified | 2 (1.3) | 116 (1.9) |
| Strengthening (progressive or not) | 46 (30.3) | 1534 (26.0) |
| Aerobic (including walking) | 7 (4.6) | 148 (2.5) |
| Balance and neuromuscular training | 9 (5.9) | 260 (4.4) |
| Tai chi, yoga, and other nontraditional exercise | 18 (11.8) | 551 (9.3) |
| Any combined aerobic, flexibility, ROM, strengthening | 26 (17.1) | 1342 (22.7) |
| Aquatic or aquatic and land exercises | 15 (9.9) | 539 (9.1) |
| Combined balance, ROM, flexibility, strengthening | 27 (17.8) | 1249 (21.1) |
| Physical therapy plus all modes of exercise | 2 (1.3) | 170 (2.9) |
| Assessment of exercise intensity | ||
| Unspecified | 88 (57.9) | 3816 (64.6) |
| Perceived exertion scale | 21 (13.8) | 597 (10.1) |
| % heart rate reserve or maximal heart rate | 16 (10.5) | 651 (11.0) |
| % strength performance test | 24 (15.8) | 680 (11.5) |
| Not well described | 3 (2.0) | 165 (2.8) |
a
Some studies had more than 1 exercise program being tested. ROM = range of motion.