A physician will recommend a treatment regimen based upon the severity of symptoms. General recommendations for the management of<unk>  may include avoiding activities that aggravate the condition, and applying cold or warm packs and using ointments and creams to relieve symptoms. Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical management is usually dependent upon the nature of the underlying condition causing<unk> . Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (paracetamol), and ibuprofen, naproxen, and other NSAIDs are often used as first-line medical treatments for pain relief and/or managing inflammation. Corticosteroids may be injected directly into the joint cavity to provide more significant relief from inflammation, swelling, and pain. Other medications used in management of<unk>  of the knee include; disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, biopharmaceuticals, viscosupplementation (including hyaluronic acid injections), and glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate. Hyaluronic acid is normally present in joints (including the knee), acting as lubricant and providing shock absorption, among other functions. In osteoarthritis, there is a loss of articular hyaluronic acid activity, likely contributing to pain and stiffness associated with the condition. Hyaluronic acid injections are an FDA-approved treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, and are sometimes also used for other joints. However, the merits of HA injections are still disputed. HA injections are indicated when other medications fail to offer adequate symptom relief. Symptom relief associated with HA injections may last up to 2 years after an injection. HA injections appear to offer significant pain relief to some patients, while others may see no benefits at all. In severe osteoarthritis without much cartilage, the benefits of hyaluronic are not observed. Orthotics Supportive devices like knee braces can be used for symptom relief in osteoarthritis of the knee. Knee braces may however result in discomfort, skin irritation, swelling, and may not provide benefits to all. Using a cane, shock-absorbent footwear and inserts, elastic bandages, and knee sleeves may also be helpful for managing<unk>  symptoms. Braces may be especially effective when only one knee is affected. Shoe insoles that are fitted to correct flat feet provide significant relief to those with severely flat feet. However, it has been found that insoles used to correct medial knee osteoarthritis (the more common form) may not offer much pain relief. Lifestyle Body weight Obesity is a known and very significant risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis. Furthermore, losing weight reduces mechanical stress acting upon the knees when standing, possibly reducing pain and improving function in knee osteoarthritis. However, it is necessary to ascertain whether the patient is actually overweight before committing to weight loss as a management technique. Exercise Exercises can help increase range of motion and flexibility as well as help strengthen the muscles in the leg. Physical therapy and exercise are often effective in reducing pain and improving function. Compared to the patient-education program, pain and function showed improvement after eight weeks of aquatic exercise, and after twelve weeks it showed improvement in the function actiites. Inclusion of isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring strengthening exercises into the rehabilitation packages for the patients with knee osteoarthritis may also enhance the high-quality of life and make a contribution to the decreased hazard of fall. land-based exercises that focus on hip abductor shows improvement related to performance and function in women with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. A Cochrane review could not conclude whether high-intensity exercises provide better results than low-intensity exercises. Surgical Surgical intervention may be undertaken if no other management technique yields adequate relief. Surgical procedures may entail an arthroscopy (seldom used for sole osteoarthritis), osteotomy (performed only for unilateral early-stage osteoarthritis), or arthroplasty. Knee replacement is the most definitive treatment for osteoarthritis-related symptoms and disability. It is a type of arthroplasty, and may involve either a partial or total replacement with a prosthesis. Alternative medicine Alternative medicine interventions undertaken for pain relief in<unk>  of the knee include acupuncture, and magnetic pulse therapy.
Knee arthritis
Knee effusion
Shoulder arthritis
Sacroiliitis
Osteochondritis
Knee dislocation
Septic arthritis
Ankle flare