Table 3.

Efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound versus sham in knee osteoarthritis.

Outcome	N of RCTs	N of patients	Effect estimate (95% CI)
Pain (2-8 weeks of follow-up)	4	234	SMD -0.33 (-0.60, -0.07)
Pain - % Improvement (0-100 VAS)	4	234	9.6% (2%, 17.4%)
Pain [Supplemental Analysis†] (2–8 weeks of follow-up)	5	264	SMD -0.45 (-0.77, -0.13)
Pain - % Improvement (0–100 VAS)	5	264	13% (3.8%, 22.3%)
Function (2–8 weeks of follow-up)	3	152	SMD -0.33 (-0.65, -0.01)
Function - % Improvement (0–100 VAS)	3	152	12.8% (0.4%, 25.2%)
Function [Supplemental Analysis†] (2–8 weeks of follow-up)	4	182	SMD -0.45 (-0.80, -0.09)
Function - % Improvement (0–100 VAS)	4	182	17.4% (3.5%, 31%)
6-minute walk test (4–8 weeks of follow-up)	2	87	SMD 0.10 (0.04, 0.16)

CI, confidence interval; MD, mean difference; N, number; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SMD, standardized mean difference; VAS, visual analogue scale;

^†Supplemental analyses included all eligible studies, irrespective of comparator type.

Bold letters indicate statistically significant results or p values lower than 0.05.