| The most common type of knee arthritis is | | | | |
| Osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, | | | | Treatment for knee arthritis ranges from |
| caused by wear-and-tear on the knee joints. | | | | simple life changes and medications to |
| Osteoarthritis causes a progressive wearing | | | | injections at the site and even surgery to |
| away of the cartilage of the joint | | | | completely replace the knee. Each patient is |
| surrounding the knee. When this protective | | | | different and should determine their course |
| cartilage is worn away by knee arthritis, | | | | of treatment with an orthopedist who |
| bare bone is exposed within the joint. It is | | | | specializes in knee arthritis. |
| extremely painful and can become so | | | | |
| debilitating that the sufferer can barely | | | | Some basic treatments to begin with include: |
| stand or walk for any length of time. | | | | |
| | | | Weight Loss: |
| What Causes Knee Arthritis? | | | | |
| | | | Carrying excess weight can cause serious harm |
| Arthritis of the knee generally afflicts | | | | to weakened knee joints by placing undo |
| patients over the age of 50 who are | | | | stress on the knee. Pain can be excruciating |
| overweight. Genetic predisposition may also | | | | for obese patients suffering with knee |
| be a cause of this chronic condition. Other | | | | arthritis. |
| risk factors that may contribute to | | | | |
| developing knee arthritis include: | | | | Activity Modification: |
| | | | |
| -Trauma to the knee. | | | | Limiting certain activities may be necessary, |
| | | | and learning new exercise methods may be |
| -Meniscus tears or ligament damage. | | | | helpful. Those who find it too painful to |
| | | | exercise, may find aquatic therapy helpful |
| -Fractures to the bone around the joint. | | | | since the buoyancy of the water takes away |
| | | | any stress to the knees and joints while |
| Symptoms of Knee Arthritis: | | | | exercising. |
| | | | |
| Knee arthritis symptoms tend to progress as | | | | Walking Aids: |
| the condition worsens and may be exacerbated | | | | |
| by weather changes and stress to the knee | | | | Using a cane or crutch in the hand opposite |
| joints. Pain may appear intermittedly, with | | | | the affected knee can help decrease the |
| pain free weeks or months, followed by very | | | | demand placed on the arthritic joint. |
| painful flare-ups. | | | | |
| | | | Physical Therapy: |
| Some of the most common symptoms of knee | | | | |
| arthritis include: | | | | Decreasing the burden on the knee by |
| | | | strengthening the muscles around the knee |
| -Pain with activities. | | | | joint may help decrease both pain and |
| | | | swelling. Proper physical therapy can also |
| -Limited range of motion. | | | | help prevent muscle atrophy around the knee, |
| | | | which is an important part of maintaining |
| -Stiffness of the knee. | | | | functional use of the knee. |
| | | | |
| -Swelling of the joint. | | | | Occupational Therapy: |
| | | | |
| -Tenderness along the joint. | | | | Some patients have found short stints of |
| | | | occupational therapy helpful in learning the |
| -A feeling the joint may "give out". | | | | proper ways to stand, sit, bend, and so forth |
| | | | once atrophy of the muscles surrounding the |
| -Deformity of the joint (knock-knees or | | | | knee begins to affect range of motion, |
| bow-legs). | | | | |
| | | | Arthritis of the knee can be especially |
| Evaluation of a patient with knee arthritis | | | | difficult to deal with for many patients |
| should begin with a physical examination and | | | | since their mobility can be seriously limited |
| X-Rays. These can serve as a baseline to | | | | once the disease progresses. Beginning |
| evaluate later examinations and determine | | | | treatment early, and learning the proper way |
| progression of the condition. | | | | to care for a damaged knee are all important |
| | | | in maintaining an active lifestyle despite |
| Treating Knee Arthritis? | | | | the disease. |