Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation associated with therapeutic exercise on pain, function, and strength of people with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials with GRADE recommendations.

Key Points

• The aim is to assess the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with therapeutic exercise on pain, function, and strength in knee osteoarthritis.
• Systematic review of randomized clinical trials
• Analysis included studies utilizing neuromuscular electrical stimulation and therapeutic exercise
• GRADE recommendations evaluated the quality of evidence
• NMES combined with exercise may lead to modest long-term improvements in pain
• Improvements in mobility were also reported, although confidence in evidence is very low