Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis
and is a major cause of morbidity, limitation of
activity, and healthcare utilization, especially in
elderly patients1. Pain and functional limitation are the
primary clinical manifestations of the osteoarthritis
(OA) of the knee. Current recommendations for
managing OA focus on relieving pain and stiffness,
and maintaining or improving physical function as
important goals of therapy2-4. No curative therapies
exist for OA; thus, both pharmacologic and
non-pharmacologic management focus on controlling
pain and reducing functional limitation.
Non-pharmacologic therapy, which includes patient
education, social support, physical and occupational
therapy, aerobic and resistive exercises, and weight
loss, is the corner stone of multidisciplinary approach
to OA patient management. Pharmacologic therapies
include non-opoid analgesics (such as acetaminophen),
NSAIDs (including COX-2 enzyme selective
inhibitors), topical analgesics (capsaicin cream