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