Cost-effectiveness of yoga vs. strengthening exercise for treating knee OA: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
A 3-month yoga program for knee OA was non-inferior to strengthening exercise and is likely to be cost-effective.
Study context
- Population
- Participants with symptomatic knee OA (mean age 62.5 years; 73% female)
- Participants
- 117 participants
- Comparison
- 12 weeks of yoga vs strengthening exercise
- Yogan = 58
- Strengthening exercisen = 59reference
- Primary endpoint
- Incremental cost-effectiveness of the two interventions (costs; QALYs from EQ-5D-5L)
- Follow-up
- 3 months
Methodological detailsseemingly unrelated regression with multiple imputation, bootstrapping, cost-effectiveness acceptability curves, societal and healthcare perspectives
- Seemingly unrelated regression with multiple imputation
- Bootstrapping
- Cost-effectiveness acceptability curves
- Societal and healthcare perspectives
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Mean difference (societal costs)
−129.1 AUD$
95% CI −257.3 to −0.8
Yoga
Difference (quality-adjusted life years (QALYs))
0.004 QALYs
95% CI −0.01 to 0.02
Yoga
- Probability yoga cost-effective at WTP AUD$50,000 per QALY, societal perspective
- 79%
Further findings
Cost difference, healthcare perspective · 3 months
- Results similar from the healthcare perspective: cost difference (yoga vs strengthening exercise)
- AUD$−97.6; 95% CI −140.5 to −54.8
Original publication
Cost-effectiveness of yoga vs. strengthening exercise for treating knee OA: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 24 March 2026. doi:10.
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