Network meta-analysis of various non-pharmacological interventions on pain relief in older adults with osteoarthritis

To compare the effectiveness of different non-pharmacological interventions on pain relief in older adults with osteoarthritis (OA), literature databases, bibliographies, and other relevant sources were searched. No language limitations were applied. Thirty-two trials published from 1997 to 2017 were included in the systematic review and network meta-analyses. We included only RCTs and studies that evaluated the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on alleviating pain in elderly adults (age 60 years or more or mean age over 65) who suffer from OA, irrespective of gender. In the network meta-analysis, resistance training was ranked as the most effective among all non-pharmacological interventions (SUCRA: 82.9%, SMD: 1.96, CI: -1.39 to 5.31). In subgroup analyses, resistance training still ranked the most effective pain reduction intervention, followed by strengthening exercise and yoga. Among female subjects with intervention adherence rate greater than 90%, the most effective intervention was yoga. Strengthening exercise was superior to all other forms of interventions when comparing long-term effect of selected interventions. Among older adults with OA, resistance training can be considered a treatment option for pain relief. Yoga is an effective intervention strategy for female elderly, and strengthening exercise has a better long-term beneficial effect. Abbreviations: SUCRA=surface under the cumulative ranking. Correspondence Author: Feng Li, PhD, College of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun130021, Jilin Province, China, Tel.: +86 18243066197. E-mail address: fli@jlu.edu.cn This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Acknowledgement Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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