Treatments for Osteoarthritis

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

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Treatments for Osteoarthritis

The treatment and management of osteoarthritis involves lifestyle changes, medications, other treatments, alternative and complementary therapies, and surgery.

The goals of treatment include:

Controlling pain
Improving mobility and joint use
Minimizing disability, returning normal function
Slowing the progression of osteoarthritis
Protecting other joints from developing osteoarthritis

Treatment involves the following:

]]>Lifestyle changes]]>
]]>Medications]]>
]]>Surgery]]>
]]>Alternative and complementary therapies]]>
]]>Other treatments]]>

References:

Arthritis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/ .

Conn’s Current Therapy . 54th ed. W.B. Saunders Company; 2002.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/ .

Manek NJ, Lane NE. Osteoarthritis: current concepts in diagnosis and management. American Family Physician . 2000;51(6). Available at: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000315/1795.html.

Last reviewed September 2009 by ]]>Jill D. Landis, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.