Knee pain leaves many middle-aged folks limping and contemplating knee surgery. A new study suggests that intensive physical therapy could offer many of them equal benefit as arthroscopic surgery. This randomized controlled trial included 350 people over 45 with osteoarthritis or tears in the meniscus of the knee. Half were assigned to arthroscopy and the other half to physical therapy. After a year, patients in both groups were doing equally well.
The investigators did note that roughly one-third of those assigned to physical therapy eventually opted for surgery, since the therapy had not provided adequate relief. For the others, though, the cost differential is impressive: About $2000 for several weeks of physical therapy compared to $4500 for surgery.
[New England Journal of Medicine, online March 18, 2013]
Although there will never be good clinical trials of home remedies, many people tell us that some inexpensive remedies are also helpful for easing knee pain. Some may be worth a try, either before signing up for physical therapy or at the same time.
7/29/19 redirected to: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/how-to-ease-your-knee-pain/
