Baseline characteristics of participants allocated to exercise therapy or arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Values are means (standard deviations) unless stated otherwise
| Characteristics | Exercise group | Meniscectomy group |
|---|---|---|
| Demographics | n=70 | n=70 |
| No (%) men | 43 (61) | 43 (61) |
| No (%) right knee | 41 (59) | 41 (59) |
| Age (years) | 50.2 (6.2) | 48.9 (6.1) |
| Body mass index (weight (kg)/(height (m)2)) | 26.4 (4.3) | 26.0 (3.7) |
| No (%) smokers | 3 (4.2) | 10 (14.3) |
| No (%) use analgesics daily | 3 (4.2) | 3 (4.2) |
| No (%) primary school education only | 3 (4.2) | 2 (2.9) |
| No (%) education at university level | 37 (53) | 36 (51) |
| Severity of radiographic knee osteoarthritis* | n=70 | n=70 |
| Grade 0 | 49 (70) | 51 (73) |
| Grade 1 | 18 (26) | 16 (23) |
| Grade 2 | 2 (3) | 3 (4) |
| Grade 3 | 1 (1) | 0 |
| Magnetic resonance imaging† | n=69 | n=70 |
| Meniscal degeneration‡ | ||
| No (%) grade 1–2 | 6 (9) | 6 (9) |
| No (%) grade 3a-3b | 63 (91) | 64 (91) |
| Meniscal extrusion§ | ||
| No (%) no extrusion | 24 (35) | 35 (50) |
| No (%) extrusion | 45 (65) | 35 (50) |
| Pain | n=70 | n=69 |
| Duration (months) | 17.3 (21.5) | 12.0 (15.7) |
| Knee function | n=67 | n=63 |
| Visual analogue scale (0–100, worse to best) | 57.9 (21.5) | 63.8 (18.9) |
| KOOS scores (0–100, worst to best) | n=70 | n=70 |
| KOOS4 | 54.3 (18.2) | 59.6 (13.8) |
| Pain | 63.4 (20.8) | 67.6 (14.9) |
| Symptoms | 69.8 (16.7) | 77.4 (14.6) |
| Activities of daily living | 75.0 (21.5) | 79.6 (16.1) |
| Function in sport and recreation | 44.0 (25.8) | 47.8 (23.4) |
| Knee related quality of life | 40.0 (17.5) | 45.6 (15.5) |
| SF-36 points (0–100, worst to best) | n=70 | n=70 |
| Physical component summary | 45.4 (8.4) | 47.4 (6.1) |
| Mental component summary | 55.0 (9.2) | 56.0 (6.3) |
| Muscle strength (higher is better) | n=70 | n=70 |
| Peak torque extension (Nm) | 157.5 (48.7) | 163.1 (53.2) |
| Total work extension (J) | 772.9 (245.1) | 790.8 (254.8) |
| Peak torque flexion (Nm) | 81.9 (27.2) | 88.5 (25.7) |
| Total work flexion (J) | 448.3 (187.8) | 492.9 (158.7) |
| Performance tests | n=69 | n=69 |
| One leg hop test (cm) (higher is better) | 76.6 (32.8) | 83.2 (35.5) |
| 6 m timed hop test (sec) (lower is better) | 3.1 (1.7) | 2.7 (1.2) |
| Knee bends 30 sec test (No) (higher is better) | 28.2 (10.6)¶ | 29.3 (10.6) |
KOOS=knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score; SF-36=36 item short form; Nm=Newtonmetre; J=Joule.
*Kellgren-Lawrence classification.
†Although inclusion was based on clinical readings of baseline magnetic resonance images by several radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons, the data presented here originate from post hoc reading by one radiologist blinded to group allocation and study outcome.
‡Graded according to Crues et al.19
§Evaluated on coronal sequence images, with largest tibial spine volume, defined as meniscal subluxation crossing a vertical line on the medial margin of tibia without osteophytes.
¶n=70 participants.