Knee braces, hydrotherapy, and exercise stand out as the best nondrug therapies for knee osteoarthritis

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October 29, 2025

By Lynne Christensen, Staff Wrter

Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

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Cropped image of the legs of a woman wearing a knee brace.

For the study, which was published June 18, 2025, in PLOS One, researchers reviewed data from 139 clinical trials involving a total of 9,644 people with knee osteoarthritis. In addition to knee braces, hydrotherapy, and exercise, the studies assessed ultrasound, lateral wedged insoles, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, low-level laser therapy, high-intensity laser therapy, interferential current, short-wave diathermy, Kinesio taping, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

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About the Author

Lynne Christensen, Staff Wrter

Lynne Christensen is a staff writer for Harvard Health Publishing, contributing to Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Heart Letter, Harvard Women’s Health Watch, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch. She has also authored Harvard Health Publishing special reports on a variety of … See Full Bio

View all posts by Lynne Christensen

About the Reviewer

Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. … See Full Bio

View all posts by Robert H. Shmerling, MD

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