En Español (Spanish Version)

by Carson-DeWitt R

Treatments for Osteoarthritis

The treatment and management of osteoarthritis involves lifestyle changes, medicines, 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 changesMedicationsSurgeryAlternative and complementary therapiesOther 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.

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