19/03/2026
EXERCISE, KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS, AND PAIN
A hot-off-the-press BMJ RMD Open review is prompting discussion about how much exercise alone can really improve knee osteoarthritis symptoms.
https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/12/1/e006275
Exercise remains essential for joint health, strength and long-term function. But, in clinical practice many people with painful knee OA simply cannot engage effectively in exercise while the joint is inflamed and painful.
This is where an important research gap remains.
Photobiomodulation (PBMT) or Low Level Laser Therapy has been studied in knee osteoarthritis, with some studies reporting reduced pain and improved function when appropriate dosing parameters are used. For example, a systematic review by Stausholm et al. (2019) reported pain reduction and functional improvement with PBMT.
Clinically, the sequence often matters. When inflammation and pain can be reduced, patients may be better able to re-engage in strengthening and movement, which are essential for joint stability and long-term outcomes.
PBMT does not replace exercise. It may help reduce pain enough to make exercise possible again.
And when a joint eventually reaches end-stage degeneration, surgery and joint replacement may still be necessary.
But helping painful joints become comfortable enough to move again remains a critical step. Reducing pain can be the first step in making exercise possible again.
For more information about our approach, visit our website or contact our South Yarra clinic on 03 8529 2225.
www.laserpaintherapy.com.au/knee_arthritis/
