Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a chronic, inflammatory, degenerative arthritic condition in which the cartilage in the knee joint gradually wears away. Osteoarthritis affects the knees more than any other joint. The average age at diagnosis of OA of the knee is 50. The incidence of OA increases with age, and is the leading cause of disability among the elderly.

The pain in OA of the knee is a major issue for most patients and is typically related to physical activity such as climbing stairs, getting out of a chair, or jumping. In mild cases, walking may not cause pain since there is minimal bending of the knee involved. The patient may feel stiffness in the knee upon getting up in the morning that usually lasts less than 30 minutes. Many people with severe OA of the knee experience a feeling as if their knee is "giving way" or "buckling under". There also may be swelling of the knee. At rest, pain is usually not present unless OA is severe.

The primary goals of treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee include:

• Relieve pain
• Improve function
• Correct joint instability

In general, the treatment options for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee include:

• Lifestyle changes
• Drug therapy
• Intraarticular injections
• Surgery
• Complementary medicine therapies

Health care professionals that may be involved in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee include:

• Family physician
• Rheumatologist
• Orthopedic surgeon
• Physical therapist for management of strengthening exercises and other treatments
• Orthotist (a specialist in planning, making, and fitting orthopedic braces) for designing a brace
• Occupational therapist to teach patients how to manage daily activities more easily

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• What are the risk factors of Osteoarthritis of the Knee?
• What standard and alternative treatment options are available?
• Where are the leading doctors, hospitals and medical centers that specialize in Osteoarthritis of the Knee research and treatment?
• What are the results of the latest clinical trials?
• Where are the support groups and additional resources in my area?
• What are the promising new treatments on the horizon?

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