Description...

Arthritis of the knee is characterized by pain and inflammation within the knee joint that typically becomes more common with age. The cartilage, which serves as cushioning for the joint, becomes damaged or worn away. Without the cushioning, the bones rub and wear against each other.

The pain may have a sudden onset or it could appear gradually. Typically, pain and swelling are worse in the morning and at night before bedtime.

Osteoarthritis is known as degenerative, or "wear and tear," arthritis. It becomes more common as people age. Over the years, the cartilage becomes worn and frayed, and the bones in the joint wear against each other, the knee becomes inflamed, swollen and painful. Osteoarthritis progresses slowly and the pain and stiffness worsen with time.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a system-wide disease. It is an inflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the body's cartilage.

Post-traumatic arthritis may develop after an injury to the knee. This type of arthritis is quite similar to osteoarthritis and may even develop years after a fracture, sprain or ligament injury.

Treatment...

There is no cure for arthritis, but there are ways to minimize its impact on your life.

• Wear an iGO Elastic Knee Support or an iGO Wraparound Knee Stabilizer to help stabilize the knee, improve joint mobility and increase blood flow, which will reduce pain and decrease swelling.

• Take non-steroid, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin.

• Talk to your physician about having steroid medications injected into the joint.

• Use a cane to help relieve stress on the arthritic knee.

• Perform daily exercises to strengthen the muscles in the leg and knee.

 

At-Home Exercises...

Quad Stretch:

Lie flat on your back and place a tightly rolled pillow or pad beneath the affected knee. Tighten your upper thigh muscles and, while keeping your leg straight, bend your foot backward so the toes go back as far as possible. Hold the position for ten seconds. Repeat several times with five-second breaks between repetitions.

Heel Slide:

Lie flat on your back with your legs straight. Position one leg with the heel to the floor and the other with the knee slightly bent and that foot flat on the floor. Slide the foot that is flat against the floor backward until the knee bends upward; then slide the foot forward until the knee is nearly straight. Repeat several times for each leg.