Osteoarthritis is mainly a disease of the spine, hip, hand, knee and foot, but it can happen in other joints as well. A joint is where two bones connect, and you have them all over your body. Arthritis is a major cause of pain and disability which increasingly affects older adults.
On this program, Dr. John Wilson, board-certified in family medicine, fellowship-trained in sports medicine, and team physician for the UW Athletic Department, describes the progression of arthritis and the many non-surgical treatment pathways, particularly related to the knee, that can relieve the painful symptoms and increase the mobility. Maintaining a healthy weight and staying active are critical to managing osteoarthritis. Both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic options exist that can effectively delay the need for surgery.
