Guidelines for non-surgical treatment of knee osteoarthritis

  Core treatment methods are applicable to all patients.
  1.Ground exercise
  2.Weight management
  3.Strength training
  4.Water exercise
  5. Self-management and education
  The guidelines recommend treatments applicable to patients with the following types of osteoarthritis.
  (in the case of osteoarthritis of the knee only, with no co-morbidities)
  1. Biomechanical interventions
  2. Intra-articular injections of corticosteroids
  3. Topical application of NSAIDs
  4.Walking cane
  5.Oral COX-2 inhibitors (selective NSAIDs)
  6.Capsaicin
  Oral non-selective NSAIDs
  7.Duloxetine
  8.Acetaminophen (paracetamol)
  In cases of osteoarthritis of the knee only, with co-morbidities
  1.Biomechanical intervention
  2.Walking cane
  3.Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids
  4.Topical application of NSAIDs
  Osteoarthritis of multiple joints without co-morbidities
  1.Oral COX-2 inhibitors (selective NSAIDs)
  2.Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids
  3.Oral non-selective NSAIDs
  4.Duloxetine
  5.Biomechanical intervention
  6.Acetaminophen (paracetamol)
  Osteoarthritis of multiple joints with co-morbidities
  1.Bath therapy
  2.Biomechanical intervention
  3.Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids
  4.Oral COX-2 inhibitors (selective NSAIDs)
  5.Duloxetine