Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage in the knee joint wears down over time, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Intraarticular administration of MSCs exhibits positive clinical and radiological outcomes in cartilage quality, when compared to the hyaluronan control group, in an RCT [56]. Further understanding of the specific mechanisms, tissue source, immunogenicity (allogeneic vs autogenic), storage techniques, and the doses and safety of MSC treatments in OA is required. MMP13 is a critical catabolic enzyme in both RA and OA arthritic joints that destroys cartilage.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
By taking these data into account, a more holistic understanding of the success of the implementation of the nutrition therapy will be possible. Provisional topics used to guide the focus groups will be developed in advance. The dietitian will be responsible for recording, documenting and creating a summary analysis. The prevalence of OA is expected to increase in the future due to ongoing demographic changes and rising obesity rates. The expected results will provide important evidence on whether this interdisciplinary therapeutic approach could be a new, cost-effective and sustainable strategy to address the disease process of OA without negative side effects.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee can vary from person to person, but commonly include pain, stiffness, swelling, and decreased range of motion in the affected joint. Some people may also experience a grating sensation or hear popping sounds when they move their knee.
All participants reported an improvement in WOMAC/KOOS pain above the minimum threshold of 15% [13], with individual improvements in KOOS pain ranging from 33 to 88%. While reductions in average pain appeared to be maintained at long-term follow up, the improvement in KOOS function declined. However, while the 11 participants received five-six intervention sessions, the intervention had not been finalised and it is therefore possible that these data may provide an indication of the minimum effect.
Given the consistent observation of longer duration and increased amplitude of EMG in people with knee OA across different tasks [16, 18], it would appear that motor adaptation in this disease is characterised by an overactivity of the knee muscles. Although this strategy may enhance joint stability following acute injury [71], it will increase joint loading [72] and is likely to increase nociceptor input, exacerbating pain, if maintained in the long-term. There is evidence that muscle overactivity in low back pain is related to pain-related fear [73] and pain catastrophising [74].
Treatment Options
For example, the therapy is expensive, a person may have to receive several rounds before they see results, and the treatment may be ineffective if a person’s body mass index is over 35. However, both the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Arthritis Foundation (AF) advise against this, as there is not enough evidence to show that it is safe or effective. In some cases, a doctor may recommend a joint fluid test, which involves removing some fluid with a needle and sending it to a laboratory for testing. The doctor will examine the joints, test their overall range of motion, and check for damage.
Therefore, central staff members (SC, TA) take part in every measurement and organise the participants and coding system. Hence, every participant gets their identification code for the anthropometric measurements and the blood samples and a personalised link including password for the online questionnaire via Limesurvey. The identification code ensures that the study staff do not know to which group each participant belongs.
There is strong evidence to support the idea that such reductions in strength result directly from activity avoidance [87]. With the so-called avoidance model, the patient with knee OA experiences pain during activities, leading to the expectation that further activity will cause pain and the subsequent avoidance of activities (Fig. 6). This model is consistent with the theoretical framework we used to develop our intervention (Fig. 5). However, rather than directly target muscle weakness, our approach was to challenge beliefs and to provide experiential learning that daily activities could be performed with less muscle overactivity. It is therefore likely that clinical improvements from Cognitive Muscular Therapy occur through different mechanisms to those obtained via muscle strengthening [88].
There are several treatment options available for osteoarthritis of the knee, including medication, physical therapy, and surgery. *Strong* Pain relievers such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. *Em* Physical therapy can help improve strength and flexibility in the knee joint, while surgery may be necessary in severe cases.
It is important for individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee to work closely with their healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan that addresses their specific needs and goals. By taking a proactive approach to managing this condition, individuals can improve their quality of life and maintain mobility in their knee joint.
