Alternative therapies not satisfactory for osteoarthritis

Elderly people suffering from osteoarthritis are experimenting with alternative therapies in their strive for improved quality of life over conventional medical treatment. However, pain and stiffness in their joints were not shown to improve with relaxation therapy, acupuncture, and natural remedies, as satisfactorily as they did with medication. More invasive methods of treatment incorporate surgery and joint replacement, fixation and arthroscopy. Osteoarthritis is diagnosed clinically and via joint x-rays and is common in people aged over 50. Restriction of exercise due to pain and immobility resulted in weight gain, which exacerbates the symptoms of osteoarthritis and impacts negatively on self esteem. Other symptoms of the degenerative disease are loss of independence and loss of sleep due to pain and loss of function.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Senior Journal.com

Related Disease Topics:

• Osteoarthritis
• Degenerative disease

Related Symptom Topics:

• Joint pain
• Stiff joint
• Weight gain
• Loss of independence
• Loss of sleep
• Pain
• Loss of function

Article Source Details

About: Alternative therapies not satisfactory for osteoarthritis

Date: 29 June 2005

Source: Senior Journal.com

URL: http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Health/5-06-29OsteoarthritisSurvey.htm

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Surgery
• Surgery and osteoarthritis
• Surgery and joint replacement
• Surgery and joint fixation
• Surgery and arthroscopy
• Surgery and arthritis
• Surgery and degenerative disease
• Cause of joint pain
• Cause of stiff joint
• Cause of weight gain
• Cause of loss of independence
• Cause of loss of sleep
• Cause of pain
• Cause of loss of function
• Cause of arthritis
• Cause of osteoarthritis
• Cause of degenerative disease
• Cause of aged related diseases
• Diagnosis
• Diagnosis and arthritis
• Diagnosis and osteoarthritis
• Diagnosis and degenerative disease
• Diagnosis and joint x-ray
• Diagnosis and clinical history
• Diagnosis and joint pain
• Diagnosis and stiff joint
• Diagnosis and weight gain
• Diagnosis and loss of independence
• Diagnosis and loss of sleep
• Pain
• Diagnosis and loss of function
• Medication
• Mediation and alternative therapies
• Medication and osteoarthritis
• Medication and arthritis
• Medication and degenerative disease
• Medication and joint pain
• Medication and relaxation therapy
• Medication and acupuncture
• Medication and natural remedies
• Medication and joint stiffness
• Medication and loss of function
• Medication and pain
• Exercise

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