Osteoarthritis
Overview
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
OA is most common in larger joints that support weight, such as the spine, hips, and knees. It is also common in active joints like the hand and feet. Common problems are:
- Mild to severe pain in a joint, especially after overuse or long periods of rest
- Stiffness that gets better with activity
- Creaking or grating sounds in the joint
- Swelling, stiffness, and problems moving the joint, especially in the morning
Treatments
Treatment
OA cannot be cured. The goal of treatment is to:
- Ease joint pain and swelling
- Improving joint function
- Slowing future damage
Treatment may change over time. Options may include:
- Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating a healthful diet, and exercising regularly
- Supportive care, such as ice to ease swelling and heat to loosen stiff joints
- Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and improve range of motion
- Using supportive devices, such as crutches or canes
- Over the counter or prescription medicine to ease pain and swelling
Some people may need surgery if other methods do not help. Surgery may be done to:
- Remove loose pieces of bone or cartilage from joints
- Reposition bones to balance stress on the joint
- Replace a damaged joint with an artificial one
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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a (Degenerative Joint Disease; Arthritis, Osteo-)
RESOURCES
American College of Rheumatology http://www.rheumatology.org
The Arthritis Foundation http://www.arthritis.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
The Arthritis Society http://www.arthritis.ca
Seniors Canada http://www.seniors.gc.ca
References
Derry S, Moore RA, et al. Topical NSAIDs for acute musculoskeletal pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(6):CD007402.
Fransen M, McConnell S, et al. Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD004376.
Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. Arthritis Care Res. 2020;72(2):149-162.
Logan CA, Asnis PD, et al. The Role of Therapeutic Modalities in Surgical and Nonsurgical Management of Orthopaedic Injuries. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2017;25(8):556-568.
Osteoarthritis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health%5FInfo/Osteoarthritis/default.asp. Accessed October 8, 2020.
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/osteoarthritis-oa-of-the-hip . Accessed October 8, 2020.
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/osteoarthritis-oa-of-the-knee . Accessed October 8, 2020.
Physical therapy for arthritis. Arthritis Foundation website. Available at: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/complementary-therapies/physical-therapies/physical-therapy-for-arthritis. Accessed September 6, 2020.
Ren R, Tang G, et al. The Tai Chi training for middle-aged and elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine. 2020;99(20): p e20242.
Singh JA, Noorbaloochi S, et al. Chondroitin for osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD005614.
Xu Q, Chen B, et al. The Effectiveness of Manual Therapy for Relieving Pain, Stiffness, and Dysfunction in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain Physician. 2017;20(4):229-243.