Considering surgery for your knee problem? Exercise may work just as well!

Knee surgery is common. Young adults have their anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed after tearing it while playing sports. Middle–aged people have parts of their meniscus trimmed when they have pain and limited knee mobility, and older people have their knees replaced by metal and plastic when their cartilage has worn out. The idea that there is something mechanically wrong that needs to be fixed with orthopaedic surgery is a compelling idea – but is it correct? This presentation focuses on the results from studies where patients have been randomly assigned to receive surgery or non–surgical treatments, most often exercise therapy, for their knee conditions including; acute ACL injury, meniscal injury and moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis.