Knee & Hip Arthritis

Osteoarthritis of the knee or hip can cause long-term pain and disability, which may eventually require joint replacement surgery. However, clinical guidelines recommend non-surgical treatment options before considering surgical intervention. There are many choices available to a patient, but which approach is best for a typical knee or hip osteoarthritis patient?

A 2018 study published in the American College of Rheumatology found that manual therapy and/or exercise groups performed better than usual care alone. The study recruited 206 patients who met the clinical criteria for diagnosing knee and/or hip osteoarthritis, had no prior history of rheumatoid arthritis or prior hip or knee joint replacement, and had not initiated opioid or corticosteroid intervention within the previous month. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: 1) usual care alone; 2) usual care plus supervised exercises; 3) usual care plus manual therapy; and 4) usual care plus combined supervised exercises and manual therapy. The members in the exercise and/or manual therapy groups received ten treatment sessions initially followed by two “booster” sessions four and thirteen months later. Usual care for all four groups was provided by each patient’s medical provider on an ongoing basis.

The Western Ontario and McMaster (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index, which takes into account pain, stiffness, and physical function, was used to identify which approach performed best based on a combination of cost effectiveness and clinical effectiveness. At the conclusion of the study, the research team found that participants in groups 2, 3, and 4 (the manual therapy and/or exercise groups) performed better than those in group 1 (usual care alone) ¹.

If you are experiencing knee or hip osteoarthritis, Morgan Chiropractic can help you find the right treatment option. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about how we can help you manage your pain and improve your quality of life