Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common joint disease that significantly affects individual health and places a heavy burden on the healthcare system. Exercise is an important method for preventing and treating KOA. However, factors such as individual physical differences, exercise methods and intensity can lead to the exacerbation of KOA when exercise is not conducted scientifically. In contrast, exercise prescription can harness the therapeutic advantages of exercise while ensuring safety. An exercise prescription is a personalized exercise plan based on patient condition and physical assessment, combined with individual lifestyle considerations. It plays a role in KOA treatment by alleviating pain, improving knee joint function, and more. Nonetheless, there are still some contentious aspects within its content. This article provides a review of recent domestic and international literature, summarizing the progress of exercise prescription application in KOA treatment.