A systematic review published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders on October 23, 2026 screened 910 abstracts and included two randomized trials and five observational studies covering 160,089 patients, too varied to pool. The strongest evidence came from randomized data: semaglutide improved WOMAC knee pain by 14.1 points more than placebo on a 0-100 scale, with better physical function. Observational studies linked GLP-1 use to fewer hip (hazard ratio 0.60) and knee (0.75) replacements and slightly slower cartilage loss, which the authors rate as low-certainty; they call for longer osteoarthritis-specific trials.
Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix reported in The Journal of Knee Surgery on October 22, 2026 a TriNetX study of adults having a first total knee replacement, matching 11,765 who had a GLP-1 prescription in the year before surgery with 11,765 who did not. GLP-1 users had fewer heart attacks (25 vs 47 events; risk ratio 0.53), deep vein thromboses (74 vs 103; 0.72), and venous thromboembolisms (133 vs 172; 0.77), while pulmonary embolism rates did not differ significantly. The study is observational and based on prescription records.
University of Pennsylvania orthopedic researchers reported in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine on October 16, 2026 a TriNetX study of adults aged 40 to 80 who had arthroscopic rotator cuff repair while taking tirzepatide or semaglutide. Over two years, matched tirzepatide users had a lower rate of a repeat repair (2.83% vs 5.67%; relative risk 0.50) and less opioid and physical therapy use, and users of either drug had about 16% fewer complete re-tears than matched patients on neither. The authors said the data reflect billing codes and health care use, not confirmed tendon healing.