Telehealth-supported exercise/physical activity programs for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract The integration of telehealth-supported programs in chronic disease management has become more common, but it is unclear if this approach is effective for individuals with knee osteoarthritis. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of telehealth-supported exercise/physical activity programs in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in September 2022 on randomized controlled trials compared telehealth-supported exercise/physical activity programs to a control condition for knee osteoarthritis. Twenty-three studies met eligibility criteria, of which 20 studies included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that telehealth-supported exercise/physical activity programs reduced pain (g = − 0.39, CI − 0.67 to − 0.11, I2 = 83%), improved physical activity (g = 0.13, CI 0.03 to 0.23, I2 = 0%) and enhanced physical function (g = − 0.51, CI − 0.98 to − 0.05, I2 = 87%). In addition, better improvements in quality of life, self-efficacy for pain, and global improvement were observed, but self-efficacy for physical function showed insignificant improvements. The results indicate that a telehealth-supported exercise/physical activity program could be an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Future research should consider longer implementation durations and the feasibility of incorporating wearables and standardized components into large-scale interventions to evaluate the effects.