OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of 8 weeks of NMES+Ex (neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with exercises) on pain and functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) compared to exercise (Ex) alone. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: A specialty outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (n = 100; women = 86, men = 14; age range 50 to 75 years) with knee OA. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to NMES+Ex or Ex group. OUTCOME MEASURES: Numerical rating scale 0 to 10 (NRS) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test were the primary outcomes. The secondary outcomes used were the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). RESULTS: Following the interventions, a statistically significant improvement in both groups was observed in all outcomes assessed. For the comparison between the groups, no statistically significant difference was found between the NMES+Ex and the Ex groups in NRS (p = 0.52), TUG test (p = 0.12), and aspects of WOMAC: pain (p = 0.26), function (p = 0.23), and stiffness (p = 0.63). CONCLUSION: The addition of NMES to exercise did not improve the outcomes assessed in knee OA patients. This study was registered at the Australian Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN012607000357459).

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