New studies are showing that, despite what some patients get for treatment, combination treatments are usually the most effective way to get better. And specific exercise is almost always part of that combo.
This month in the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, a study was published showing that a combination of TENS and specific exercise for knee osteoarthritis produced better results long term than either one on its own. This study suggests that combining treatments and not sticking with the same thing over and over will be most helpful. More importantly, it shows that without specific types of exercise (not just any leg exercise-they targeted specific exercises in specific ways) patients just simply don’t get where they should be getting to.
It also shows therapists who use ONLY one treatment, even just exercise alone, that there might be a better way: Combine treatments together!