Isokinetic Strength Training for Knee Osteoarthritis

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who treat adults with knee osteoarthritis in outpatient, hospital-based, or community rehabilitation settings, and who want a clear account of what the pooled randomized evidence on isokinetic strengthening reports.

Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Physical therapist assistants work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist; evaluation, diagnosis, and plan-of-care decisions remain with the physical therapist.

Intended audience

Physical Therapy

Level

Intermediate

Delivery format

Online, asynchronous, self-paced course: interactive reading with audio or video, and a scored post-test.

Based on

This course is based on a single open-access systematic review and meta-analysis.

Guo W, Gao J, Dawazhuoma, Mi X, Ciwang, Bianba. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: evaluating the efficacy of isokinetic muscle strengthening training in improving knee osteoarthritis outcomes. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 2025;20:95. Protocol registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024607528).

Every figure and finding described in this course comes from that paper. Where the authors made a recommendation, the course reports it as their recommendation.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe the population, intervention, and comparison groups pooled in the 2025 meta-analysis of isokinetic muscle strengthening training for knee osteoarthritis.
2. State which knee strength, pain, function, and mobility outcomes the authors reported as improved and which showed no clear difference.
3. Explain the limitations the authors identified — including evidence quality, publication bias, blinding, and the absence of long-term follow-up — and how those limits shape the confidence placed in the results.

1. Start Here: course overview, objectives, and how to earn your 0.5 contact hours
2. Audio Lesson: Isokinetic Training for Knee Osteoarthritis in Plain Language (about eight minutes)
3. Why Isokinetic Training Was Put to the Test in Knee Osteoarthritis
4. Building the Review: Databases Searched, Trials Kept, Patients Counted
5. Strength, Pain, and Function: What the Pooled Trials Reported
6. Where the Evidence Wobbles: Quality Ratings, Publication Bias, and Missing Follow-Up
7. From Pooled Data to the Treatment Room: What the Authors Concluded
8. Key Takeaways
9. Post-Test (5 questions, 80% to pass, retakes allowed) and Course Evaluation

Quinn Millington, PT, DPT, ECS is the instructor of record: the licensed clinician who reviewed this course and signed off on it. The name and credentials print on the certificate.

Disclosures. This course was developed by The ConEd Solution, which has a financial interest in its sale. No outside funding or sponsorship was received. The instructor of record has no affiliation with the authors of the source publication or their institutions.

This course awards 0.5 contact hours (30 min). How you earn them:

1. Complete the course. Every lesson, in order.
2. Pass the post-test. Score 80% or higher. Retakes are allowed.
3. Complete the evaluation. A short form rating each learning objective and the course.
4. Download your certificate. It is issued on completion and stays available in My Account.

The episode time is its measured length. Reading, post-test and evaluation times are estimates.

This course is designed to satisfy the quality requirements state boards set for continuing education. Requirements vary by state, and confirming that a course fits your renewal is up to you. Each state’s own acceptance statement is in the credit panel on this page.

1. This course is based on a single open-access systematic review and meta-analysis.
2. Guo W, Gao J, Dawazhuoma, Mi X, Ciwang, Bianba. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: evaluating the efficacy of isokinetic muscle strengthening training in improving knee osteoarthritis outcomes. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 2025;20:95. Protocol registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024607528).
3. Every figure and finding described in this course comes from that paper. Where the authors made a recommendation, the course reports it as their recommendation.