N Engl J Med

Is physical therapy more effective than home exercise for meniscal tear and knee pain?

October 31, 2025

For patients with degenerative meniscal tear and knee pain, a structured home exercise program may be as effective as in-clinic physical therapy (PT). These findings support individualized treatment approaches and may reduce reliance on resource-intensive PT services.

Study details: The TeMPO trial (NCT03059004) randomized 879 adults (mean age, 59) with knee pain, osteoarthritis, and degenerative meniscal tear to one of four interventions: home exercise alone, home exercise plus adherence-promoting text messages, home exercise plus sham physical therapy, or home exercise plus standard physical therapy. Primary outcome: change in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain subscore at 3 months, with follow-up extending to 12 months.

Results: Changes in KOOS pain scores at 3 months were similar across groups. Differences between home exercise and home exercise plus text messages (-0.1 points; 98.3% confidence interval [CI], -3.8 to 3.7) and between home exercise and home exercise plus text messages plus standard physical therapy (2.5 points; 98.3% CI, -1.3 to 6.2) weren’t clinically meaningful. Adverse events were generally mild and evenly distributed among all groups.

Source:

Katz JN, et al. (2025, October 30). N Engl J Med. A Randomized Trial of Physical Therapy for Meniscal Tear and Knee Pain. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41160820/