Non-Surgical Treatments: Introduction
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the second leading cause of disability in the elderly population in the United States, affecting at least 30% of persons older than 60. OA is a degenerative disorder that generally starts off relatively mild and escalates with time and wear. For those patients experiencing early stage, mildly to moderate symptoms, the disorder can be dealt with by several non-surgical treatments. The use of braces and drug therapies has been shown to alleviate the pain caused by cartilage deficiency and some claim that they may slow the degenerative process.
