AUTHOR=Wang Wei, Niu Yonggang, Jia Qingxiu

TITLE=Physical therapy as a promising treatment for osteoarthritis: A narrative

review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.1011407

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2022.1011407

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease and a leading

cause of disability in older adults. With an increasing population ageing and
obesity, OA is becoming even more prevalent than it was in previous decades.
Evidence indicates that OA is caused by the breakdown of joint tissues from
mechanical loading and inflammation, but the deeper underlying mechanism of OA
pathogenesis remains unclear, hindering efforts to prevent and treat this disease.
Pharmacological treatments are mostly related to relieving symptoms, and there is
no drug for radical cure. However, compelling evidence suggests that regular
practice of resistance exercise may prevent and control the development of several
musculoskeletal chronic diseases including OA, which may result in improved quality
of life of the patients. In this review, we introduced the current understanding of
the mechanism and clinical treatments of OA pathogenesis. We also reviewed the
recent study of physical therapy in the treatment of skeletal system disorders,
especially in OA. Finally, we discuss the present challenges and promising
advantages of physical therapy in OA treatment.