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Treatments for Osteoarthritis

by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD

En Español (Spanish Version)

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 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.

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Last reviewed September 2011 by Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 9/22/2011

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