Study raises questions over widespread practice without supporting evidence.
Exercise therapy is as effective as surgery for middle aged patients with a common type of knee injury known as meniscal tear (damage to the rubbery discs that cushion the knee joint), finds a study in The BMJ this week.
The researchers suggest that supervised exercise therapy should be considered as a treatment option for middle aged patients with this type of knee damage.
Every year, an estimated two million people worldwide undergo knee arthroscopy (keyhole surgery to relieve pain and improve movement) at a cost of several billion US dollars.
