Table 1: Summary of randomised control trials.

Study	Year	Country	N0 of patients	Mean age	Associated osteoarthritis	Conservative group	Surgical group	Main outcomes	Cross over
Herrlin et al. [17, 18]	2007, 2013	Sweden	90	55	Ahlback grades 0-1	Standardized exercise program for 8 wk	Exercise + APM	KOOS, Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, Tegner Activity Scale, VAS scores	28%
Østerås et al. [16]	2012	Norway	17	50	Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0-2	Exercise programme 3x week for 3 mo	APM	KOOS,, VAS, HAD scores, quadriceps muscle strength at 3 mo	None
Katz et al. [19]	2013	United States	351	58	Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0-3	Individualized physical therapy with progressive home exercise	Exercise + APM	WOMAC-pf, KOOS pain scale, SF-36 physical activity scores	30%
Sihvonen et al. [22]	2013	Finland	146	52	Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0-1	Sham surgical procedure	APM	Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, WOMET, VAS, 15D, patient satisfaction scores	None
Yim et al. [21]	2013	South Korea	102	56	Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0-1	NSAIDs + 3 wk supervised physical exercise followed by 8 wk home exercise program	APM + strengthening exercises	Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, VAS, patient satisfaction, Tegner Activity	2%
Vermesan et al. [20]	2013	Romania	120	58	Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0-1	Intra-articular steroid injection	APM	Oxford knee score at 1 mo and one year	None
Gauffin et al. [23]	2014	Sweden	150	54	Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0-2	Individual exercise programme or home-based exercise programme for 3 mo	Exercise + APM	KOOS, EQ5D, the PAS, and the symptom satisfaction scale	21%
Kise et al. [27]	2016	Norway	140	50	Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0-2.	Progressive neuromuscular and strength exercises over 12 weeks, performed 2-3 x each week (24-36 sessions)	APM	KOOS, SF-36, the one leg hop test for distance, the 6 m timed hop test, and the knee bends test	19%