Good news for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA)! A new study published in JAMA Network Open shows that yoga is as effective as strength training in reducing knee pain. The research suggests that yoga can be a safe and helpful option for people looking to manage OA symptoms.

🦵 What is Knee Osteoarthritis?

Knee OA is a common joint disease that causes pain, stiffness, and difficulty in movement. It mostly affects people over 40 and can lower the quality of life. Exercise is an important part of treatment, but many people wonder: which exercise works best—yoga or strength training?

🧘 What Did the Study Find?

A clinical trial in Southern Tasmania, Australia, enrolled 117 patients over age 40 with moderate to severe knee pain. They were divided into two groups:

• Yoga group (58 people)
• Strength training group (59 people)

Each group did 12 weeks of supervised sessions (two in-person + one home session per week), followed by 12 weeks of unsupervised home sessions.

The main goal was to compare pain levels using a visual analog scale (VAS) after 12 weeks.

📊 Key Results

✅ Yoga was noninferior to strength training, meaning yoga was just as effective at reducing pain.

• Pain difference between the groups: −1.1 mm, well within the noninferiority margin of 10 mm.

✅ Yoga had better results in several other areas:

• WOMAC pain: Improved more in the yoga group
• WOMAC function and stiffness: Significantly better in the yoga group
• Patient global assessment: Better feedback from patients in the yoga group
• 40-meter walk test: Slight improvement in the yoga group
• Mental health: Better scores in depression (PHQ-9) and quality of life (AQoL-8D)

✅ No serious side effects were reported in either group.

🌟 What This Means for Patients and Doctors

This study proves that yoga is a valid option for people with knee osteoarthritis. It offers not just physical relief, but also mental well-being benefits.

Patients who prefer a gentle, holistic approach can now safely choose yoga for OA pain relief, especially those who may struggle with traditional strength exercises.

✅ Final Thoughts

This new research supports the growing role of yoga in OA management programs. Doctors can now confidently recommend yoga as an alternative or complementary treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

📢 Call to Action

🩺 Are you a doctor or physiotherapist treating patients with knee OA?

👉 Consider recommending yoga as a noninferior and holistic therapy for pain and function improvement.

To register for our next masterclass, please click here https://linktr.ee/docpreneur