Osteoarthritis

Question 1

What are the directions of the OA Treatment?

Answer 1

1. Pain Control
2. Retard Disease Progression
3. Limit Disability

Question 2

How much weight loss should a patient with knee OA needs to loss to improve pain and function?

Answer 2

at least 5% weight loss

Question 3

Is Balneotherapy (spa therapy) recommended as a complementary or alternative medicine for OA?

Answer 3

NO. There is insufficient data to recommend for knee OA

Question 4

Is massage recommended for knee OA?

Answer 4

There is insufficient evidence to recommend for the treatment of knee OA

Question 5

Is Tai c’chi, Iyengar Yoga recommended to treat knee OA?

Answer 5

For both, there is no sufficient data to recommend for knee OA

Question 6

Is Acupuncture recommended for knee OA?

Answer 6

Manual or eletroacupuncture is recommended as an additional therapy to achieve pain relief and improvement lasting for a few weeks with moderate pain

Question 7

Is

Question 8

Is Herbal recommended for knee OA?

Answer 8

Zinzeber officinale (ginger preparatin) may be recommended for its small to moderate effect.
NOT recommended are chinese herbal recipe, chinese pills, rose hip, Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)

Question 9

What analgesics are recommended for knee OA?

Answer 9

Paracetamol for mild knee OA
Tramadol for moderate pain

Question 10

Is topical formulation recommended for knee OA

Answer 10

Yes. topical NSAID can control symptomatic or acute exacerbation of knee OA (diclofenanc, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and piroxicam )

Question 11

Is intraarticular steoirds recommended?

Answer 11

It is recommended for its short term (1-3 weeks) on pain reduction. To demonstrate long term benefit (16-24 weeks), a dose equivalent to 50 mg of prednisone is recommended

Question 12

Is Intra articular hyaluronan recommended?

Answer 12

Yes. 3-5 injections for moderate pain to improve function of knee lasting up to 3 months

Question 13

Is glucosamine recommended for knee OA

Answer 13

May be recommended for knee OA

Question 14

Is chondroitin sulfate is recommended?

Answer 14

Chondroitin sulfate is NOT recommended for knee OA

Question 15

Is combination glucosamine HCL and chondroitin sulphate recommended?

Answer 15

In general, it is not recommended however, from a subgroup analysis, the combination may be recommended for moderate to severe pain

Question 16

Is glucossamine, chondroitin and MSM recommended?

Answer 16

NO recommendation due to absence of relevant data.