Latest Research on Knee Pain (2024-2026)

Exercise & Physiotherapy

1. Comparative Efficacy of Exercise Modalities in Knee OA - BMJ (Oct 2025)
   • PMID: 41093618 | Network meta-analysis
   • Yan L et al. compared multiple exercise modalities and ranked them for pain relief and function in knee osteoarthritis.
2. Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis - Cochrane Database (Dec 2024)
   • PMID: 39625083 | Gold-standard systematic review
   • Lawford BJ et al. confirmed exercise remains a cornerstone of knee OA management.
3. Overview of Exercise Therapy Systematic Reviews - BMJ Open (Jul 2025)
   • PMID: 40669904
   • Found exercise therapy consistently effective across pain, function, and quality-of-life outcomes.
4. Telehealth-Supported Exercise for Knee OA - J Med Internet Res (Aug 2024)
   • PMID: 39094114
   • Digital/remote delivery of exercise programs shown effective for pain and function.
5. Non-Drug Physical Therapies Network Meta-Analysis - ScienceDaily (Mar 2026)
   • 139 clinical trials, ~10,000 participants. Knee braces, hydrotherapy, and exercise ranked highest among 12 therapies. Ultrasound consistently ranked least effective.

Biologics: PRP & Hyaluronic Acid

1. PRP Injections for Knee OA - Am J Sports Med (Mar 2025)
   • PMID: 39751394 | Meta-analysis
   • PRP produces clinically significant improvement; effect is influenced by platelet concentration.
2. Hyaluronic Acid vs PRP in Knee OA - BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (Mar 2025)
   • PMID: 40069655
   • Direct comparison shows both are effective; PRP may have an edge for long-term function.

Nutritional & Supplementation Research

1. Collagen Supplementation in Knee OA - Clin Exp Rheumatol (Jan 2025)
   • PMID: 39212129
   • Updated meta-analysis supports collagen supplementation as a modest adjunct for pain and cartilage health.

Novel Drug Treatments

1. Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) for Knee OA - New England Journal of Medicine (Oct 2024) - Landmark RCT
   • PMID: 39476339
   • Once-weekly semaglutide in obese patients with knee OA significantly reduced pain and improved function - partly through weight loss, partly via anti-inflammatory effects. This is one of the most talked-about findings in 2024-2025.

Risk Factors

1. Risk Factors for Knee OA Across the Lifespan - Osteoarthritis & Cartilage (Oct 2025)
   • PMID: 40174718
   • Large meta-analysis identifying obesity, prior injury, female sex, and occupational loading as top modifiable risk factors.

Emerging & Experimental Treatments (2025-2026)

• Personalised Gait Retraining - Published in The Lancet Rheumatology: A Stanford/NYU RCT showed that training patients to change their foot angle while walking reduced medial compartment loading, slowed cartilage loss, and cut knee pain over 1 year.
• Cartilage Regeneration Drugs - Duke University researchers are developing pharmacologic agents that activate natural joint repair. Animal models showed near-normal tissue restoration; first-in-human trials are expected within 18-24 months.
• Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) - Minimally invasive radiological procedure targeting abnormal blood vessel growth in the synovium; strong early clinical results.
• COOLIEF Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation - FDA-cleared for up to 24 months pain relief by ablating genicular nerves. No cartilage or medication involved.
• Stem Cell Therapy - A 2025 Cochrane review found that stem cell injections may slightly improve pain vs placebo, but evidence remains low-certainty; 224 active clinical trials ongoing worldwide.

Acupuncture

1. Acupuncture for Knee OA - BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine (Nov 2024)
   • PMID: 39486882 | Network meta-analysis
   • Acupuncture showed statistically significant pain reduction, with electroacupuncture performing best among subtypes.

Surgical Recovery

1. Early Physiotherapy After Total Knee Arthroplasty - Musculoskeletal Care (Sep 2025)
   • PMID: 40635148
   • Early physio protocols significantly improve ROM, pain, and quality of life post-TKA.

Summary of Key Themes in 2025-2026 Research