Pain
New guidelines released for managing knee arthritis
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) in June released updated guidelines for treating osteoarthritis of the knee. Most of the recommendations are the same as those in the AAOS' 2009 guidelines, although the organization no longer recommends hyaluronic acid injections, which haven't been found to offer much pain relief.
The AAOS also isn't recommending glucosamine and chondroitin supplements or acupuncture for knee arthritis. Recommended treatments that are better supported by research include low-impact aerobic exercise and weight loss (in overweight individuals) to reduce excess pressure on the joint. For pain relief, the organization advises the use of acetaminophen (in doses of less than 3,000 mg daily) and NSAIDs.
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