Guides on Treatments for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Plain-Language Guides on Treatments for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

AHRQ has released plain-language guides for consumers and clinicians that examine the effectiveness, safety, and adverse effects of various treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee. The consumer guide, Osteoarthritis of the Knee – A Guide for Adults, defines the chronic and often debilitating condition. It is written to assist patients who seek answers to basic questions, and to guide them when they discuss treatment options with their clinicians.

The guides summarize the results of a new report that addresses several questions:

How effective are glucosamine and chondroitin for osteoarthritis of the knee?
Will losing weight and staying active help the condition?
Are there side effects and risks associated with shots or arthroscopic surgery?
The consumer guide is available at: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/repFiles/04082009_OsteoKneeConsumer.pdf.

The clinician guide, Three Treatments for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Evidence Shows Lack of Benefit, includes additional information, such as a confidence scale that rates the available evidence. It can be found at: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/repFiles/20090408_OsteoKneeClinician.pdf.