Knee osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritisIt is a disease caused by wear and degeneration of the cartilage surface of the knee joint. It most commonly occurs in older adults: women aged 60 and above, and men aged 65 and above. There are many possible causes, such as increasing age and natural degeneration, heredity, improper knee use, accidents, and fractures around the knee.

Symptoms of knee osteoarthritisThese include knee pain, aching and fatigue of the muscles around the knee—especially when walking up and down stairs or sitting with the knees bent/squatting—cracking/popping sounds in the knee, inability to fully straighten or bend the knee, or bowing/deformity of the knee joint.

Treatment of knee osteoarthritisCurrently, treatments include oral medications to relieve pain and inflammation, lubricating agents to reduce friction in the knee joint, and medications that help repair the cartilage in the knee. In addition to oral medications, there are also injections to increase synovial fluid by injecting directly into the knee joint, as well as injections to reduce acute inflammation.

In addition to medication, adjusting knee-use behavior is just as important. You should reduce going up and down stairs when unnecessary, and reduce or avoid activities such as sitting on the floor, squatting, sitting cross-legged, or sitting with the legs folded to the side. Using crutches or a cane to assist walking and losing weight are also helpful. Patients can adjust these themselves to prevent knee osteoarthritis from worsening.

Finally, if medication and behavioral adjustments do not lead to improvement, total knee replacement surgery is an appropriate treatment. Today, knee replacement surgery has advanced greatly and is no longer something to be feared: the incision is small, there is less pain, and you can walk immediately on the first day after surgery, greatly improving the patient’s quality of life.