Community-based Management of Osteoarthritis: Narrative Literature Review

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases and a major cause of pain, physical functional limitations, and reduced quality of life among older adults. Conventional management strategies that rely primarily on healthcare facilities often face accessibility limitations, highlighting the potential role of community-based physiotherapy interventions in managing knee osteoarthritis. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of community-based physiotherapy interventions in reducing pain, improving physical function, and enhancing quality of life in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This study employed a narrative literature review approach by searching relevant articles from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and PEDro databases. Eligible studies were published between 2015 and 2025 and included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and cohort studies that investigated physiotherapy interventions within a community-based management framework. A total of eight articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed descriptively. Results: The findings indicate that community-based physiotherapy interventions demonstrate variable effectiveness. Programs incorporating physical activity, resistance training, health education, and technology-assisted support tend to produce positive outcomes in terms of physical function, mobility performance, and quality of life. However, significant pain reduction was not consistently observed across studies. Major challenges in program implementation included low participant adherence, as well as psychological and social barriers affecting engagement. Conclusion: community-based physiotherapy interventions show promising potential in the management of knee osteoarthritis, particularly in maintaining physical function and improving quality of life. Further optimization of program design, adoption of context-specific approaches, and integration of supportive technologies are recommended to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of these interventions.