Knee osteoarthritis: review of treatment options

Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the knee that results in the wearing away of the cartilage between the bones of the joint. This reduces the cushioning effect of cartilage, which can lead to decreased movement, stiffness and pain. As we get older cartilage takes a longer time to heal so it is not surprising that the most common cause of knee osteoarthritis (OA) is age. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 40% of people over 70 suffer with osteoarthritis of the knee.1 Although there is a higher prevalence of knee OA in middle-aged and elderly