Osteoarthritis Treatments

Treatment will depend on your symptoms, your age, and your general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. The goal of treatment is to reduce joint pain and stiffness, and improve joint movement. Treatment may include:

• Exercise. Regular exercise, including stretching and strengthening, may help reduce pain and other symptoms.
• Heat treatment. Treating the affected joint with heat may help reduce pain.
• Physical and occupational therapy. These types of therapy may help to reduce joint pain, improve joint flexibility, and reduce joint strain. Splints and other assistive devices may also be used.  
• Weight maintenance. Keeping a healthy weight or losing weight if needed may help to prevent or reduce symptoms.
• Medications.These may include pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications. Either may be taken by mouth as a pill, or rubbed on the skin as a cream.
• Injections of thick liquids into the joints. These liquids mimic normal joint fluid.
• Joint surgery. Surgery may be needed to repair or replace a severely damaged joint.

Talk with your health care providers about the risks, benefits, and possible side effects of all medications.

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