Physical pain and immobility typically come to mind when we think of the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. However, osteoarthritis symptoms go far beyond physical strain, affecting all aspects of your life, specifically your mental health. The connection between OA and mental health conditions is considerable, with one in five American adults with arthritis showing symptoms of anxiety or depression.
With an aging active population the incidence of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis is increasing. Unfortunately there is a current lack of truly effective non-operative treatment options. Depending on the severity of disease, there is a hierarchy of commonly used management approaches including physical therapy, nutraceuticals, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and injectables including corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet rich plasma and stem cells. The current blog reviews commonly utilized injectable biologic treatments for symptomatic knee arthritis and introduces the potential utility of joint fluid analysis as a prognostic tool.
Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United State, and is a major reason for seeking medical care, and one of the most prevalent chronic conditions. In the past, evidence has been presented for the effectiveness of self-management in the treatment of arthritis-related pain and disability. The American College of Rheumatology has called for self-management education in its standard of care for osteoarthritis (OA). In addition, as part of its 2010 Goals for the Nation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called for an increase in the percentage of people participating in arthritis self-management education.
