Understanding Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone changes. It most commonly affects the knees, hips, spine, and hands. While OA is a progressive condition, effective non-surgical management can significantly slow its progression, reduce pain, and maintain quality of life for many years.
Lifestyle Modifications
Weight loss is the single most impactful non-surgical intervention for knee OA. For every kilogram of weight lost, there is a four-kilogram reduction in knee joint load. Low-impact activity like swimming, cycling, and walking maintains joint health without excessive loading. Dietary changes — including increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants — may help reduce systemic joint inflammation.
Physiotherapy & Exercise
A structured exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist is first-line treatment for knee OA. Quadricep and hip strengthening improves joint stability and reduces pain. Hydrotherapy (pool-based exercises) is particularly effective for severe pain. McConnell taping and orthotics can provide immediate symptom relief by correcting biomechanical factors.
Medications & Supplements
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac) are effective for short-term pain relief but carry cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks with long-term use. Topical NSAIDs offer local relief with fewer systemic effects. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements have mixed evidence but are safe and may benefit a subset of patients. Duloxetine may help with central sensitization pain patterns.
Injection Therapies
Intra-articular corticosteroid injections provide rapid but typically short-term relief (2–8 weeks), most effective for acute flares. Hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation may provide longer relief (3–6 months) in mild-to-moderate OA. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections have growing evidence in early-to-moderate OA. Stem cell injections remain under evaluation in clinical trials.
