Osteoarthritis of the Knee: What you need to know about symptoms, diagnosis, &

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis. OA is sometimes referred to as degenerative, or wear and tear, arthritis, as opposed to inflammatory arthritis. It may be due to trauma to the joint, excessive loading of the joint over time, or even because of hereditary tendencies. OA commonly affects the knee joint. In fact, knee OA is the most common cause of disability in the United States. Treatments for OA include analgesics, NSAID’s, weight loss, orthopaedic bracing, total knee replacement, and proximal tibial osteotomy. In addition, currently in the lay press, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are being heralded as safe and effective treatments for this condition. A recent study has shown that while these products offer no additional relief when compared to placebo or NSAID use, the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may offer relief superior to that of placebo in patients with “moderate” to “severe” osteoarthritis of the knee.