What do you do if you’ve got osteoarthritis of the knee?

Film director Baz Luhrmann made a spoof graduation speech famous with his hit “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” back in 1999. At the time, I wasn’t particularly worried about the line in that track: “Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.” But, you get older, knees become more of a focus, so what are you to do if you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee (thankfully, I don’t…yet). According to SBM, here’s what a massive scientific review of the various possible treatments has to say: Exercise – strong evidence for effectiveness Weight loss – moderate evidence for Acupuncture – strong evidence against Physical agents TENS, ultrasound, etc. – inconclusive Manual therapy chiropractic, massage – inconclusive Valgus directing force brace – inconclusive Lateral wedge insoles – moderate evidence against Glucosamine and chondroitin – strong evidence against NSAIDs – strong evidence for Acetaminophen, opioids, pain patches – inconclusive Intraarticular corticosteroid injections – inconclusive Hyaluronic acid injections – strong evidence against Hyaluronic acid supplements – see above Growth factor injections and/or platelet rich plasma – inconclusive Needle lavage – moderate evidence against Arthroscopy with lavage and debridement – strong evidence against Partial meniscectomy in osteoarthritis patients with torn meniscus – inconclusive Valgus producing proximal ti...
Source: Sciencebase Science Blog - Category: Medical Scientists Authors: Tags: Science Source Type: blogs