22 May 2026 : Review article
Evolving Strategies for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Narrative Review of Integrated Rehabilitation, Pharmacologic, and Joint-Preserving Interventions
Hao Wang CEF 1, Lijian Cui ACF 1*DOI: 10.12659/MSM.952864
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e952864
Introduction
Non-Pharmacological Rehabilitation
Exercise Therapy
Weight Intervention
Biomechanical Therapy
Physical Therapy
Pharmacological Management
Oral and Topical Pharmacological Interventions
Intra-Articular Injection Therapy
Platelet-Rich Plasma Biotherapy
Adjuvant Therapy
Arthroscopic Debridement
High Tibial Osteotomy
Proximal Fibular Osteotomy
Knee Joint Distraction
Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Limitations and Future Perspectives
Conclusions
References
Figure 1 The clinical stepwise approach for managing knee osteoarthritis (KOA) progression. The figure depicts the integration of rehabilitation, pharmacological treatments, and joint-preserving surgeries [arthroscopic debridement, high tibial osteotomy (HTO), proximal fibular osteotomy (PFO), unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), knee joint distraction (KJD)] and ultimately total knee arthroplasty (TKA).