Osteoarthritis of the knee: An integrative therapies approach

Abstract

Patients with osteoarthritis seek health care primarily for the relief of associated pain and for improving function. Although conventional treatment offers oral analgesics such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen for short-term pain relief, they are not without deleterious side effects, nor do they address the underlying problem. With this in mind, many patients with osteoarthritis of the knee utilize complementary and integrative therapies that address the symptoms of pain, restore mobility, and improve the underlying causative factors. Copyright © 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.