Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Managing Osteoarthritis of the Knee and the benefits of Physical Therapy

Abstract

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a very manageable condition. There are several risk factors that lead to the development of osteoarthritis, and simply because someone exhibits these factors it does not necessarily mean that one will develop osteoarthritis. Like risk factors, there are many causes of osteoarthritis, such as trauma or sports. Diagnosis of osteoarthritis is fairly simple with an x-ray, MRI, or blood tests. Treatment is a longer process because the physician will try every route possible before surgery is considered an option. Prior to surgery many therapies are available and the patient may take medications to relieve pain or inflammation. If patients who are prone to osteoarthritis practice preventative measures, then they decrease their chance of developing osteoarthritis.

Managing Osteoarthritis of the Knee and the benefits of Physical Therapy

Suffering from knee pain that won’t go away? The cause of this pain may very well be a form of arthritis. There are many types of arthritis, the most common type being osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition in which joint cartilage deteriorates and is broken down, causing the bones to rub against one another. With the cartilage degenerated there is no longer a shock absorber present in the knee. The knee being one of the major weight bearing joints in the body, cartilage is lost more rapidly than any other joint in the body. Osteoarthritis is more common in individuals after several years of wear-and-tear to the joint. There are many causes of osteoarthritis of the knee, from excessive use to obesity. Individuals can take preventative measures to decrease their risk of becoming diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee by taking steps that will decrease the risk. There is a very wide range of treatment options for osteoarthritis and all of them are very effective. The most effective treatment for a patient is...