An education and exercise program for knee and hip osteoarthritis can reduce the desire for surgery

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-05-09 04:00

Australia; International; NSW; VIC

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Giving knee and hip osteoarthritis patients education about their condition and an exercise program can reduce the desire to get a joint replacement surgery, according to international and Australian researchers who say this could have economic benefits. 55,000 participants underwent the three-month program intended to help them self-manage their condition and educate them on both surgical and non-surgical treatments. The researchers say 70% of the participants started and ended the program not wanting surgery, 14% started and ended the program wanting surgery, 10% decided they didn't want surgery after the program and 6% decided they did want surgery. The researchers say over time, these views corresponded with which patients actually went through with surgery.