title: Effects of therapeutic ultrasound on pain, physical functions and safety outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of therapeutic ultrasound with sham or no intervention on pain, physical function and safety outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This systematic review was searched on CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Open Gray on 4 September 2015. Trials included randomized controlled trials that compared therapeutic ultrasound with a sham or no intervention in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible trials and extracted data were identified by two independent investigators. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for pain and physical function outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2test and inverse-variance random-effects analysis was applied to all trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten randomized controlled trials (645 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Therapeutic ultrasound showed a positive effect on pain (SMD = -0.93, 95%, CI = -1.22 to -0.64, p < 0.01, p for heterogeneity = 0.12, I2= 42%). For physical function, therapeutic ultrasound was advantageous for reducingWestern Ontario and McMaster Universities physical function score (SMD = -0.37, 95% CI = -0.73 to -0.01, p = 0.04, p for heterogeneity = 0.94, I2= 0%). In terms of safety, no occurrence of adverse events caused by therapeutic ultrasound was reported in any trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors suggested that therapeutic ultrasound is beneficial for reducing knee pain and improving physical functions in patients with knee osteoarthritis and could be a safe treatment.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Luzhou Medical Colleage Affiliated Hosipital, Luzhou, Peoples' Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Luzhou Medical Colleage Affiliated Hosipital, Luzhou, Peoples' Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yujie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaotian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiaodan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chunlan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China 1198455105@qq.com wangpu0816@qq.com.
authors.forename: Chengqi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Peoples' Republic of China.
authors.forename: Pu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy
keywords: Knee; meta-analysis; osteoarthritis; systematic review; ultrasonic therapy