The Influence of Physical Exercises on the Flexibility of Older Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review

Flexibility is a component of functional capacity and is relevant in maintaining the musculature and structures adjacent to the joints. Then, the improvement of the flexibility must be a critical goal in the rehabilitation programs. By improving flexibility in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) individuals, the pain is relieved, the risk of injury is reduced, and the need for surgical interventions is delayed. We aimed to summarize the available literature on the influence of different physical exercise modalities on flexibility in older KOA individuals.

This study followed the PRISMA statement and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020195786). Seven databases (MEDLINE/PubMed; PEDro; CINAHL; Scopus; Web of Science; Embase; and SPORTDiscus) were screened for papers published prior to Sep 6, 2022. The PEDro scale, Cochrane collaborations, and ROBINS-I tools were used to evaluate the methodological quality and risk of bias.

Ten studies (including 438 participants diagnosed with KOA) fulfilled the eligibility criteria, and nine concluded that flexibility was improved after a physical exercise program.

Despite the modality, physical exercise improves flexibility in older KOA individuals, improving the functional capacity. Health professionals engaged in KOA rehabilitation should use physical exercise as a strategy to improve the flexibility of this population.