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To identify the optimal exercise program, characterized by type and intensity of exercise, length of program, duration of individual supervised sessions, and number of sessions per week, for reducing pain and patient‐reported disability in knee osteoarthritis (OA).

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials were performed. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were combined using a random‐effects model. Study‐level covariates were applied in meta‐regression analyses in order to reduce between‐study heterogeneity.

Forty‐eight trials were included. Similar effects in reducing pain were found for aerobic, resistance, and performance exercise (SMD 0.67, 0.62, and 0.48, respectively; P = 0.733). These single‐type exercise programs were more efficacious than programs that included different exercise types (SMD 0.61 versus 0.16; P < 0.001). The effect of …