Pain in hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Abstract

Q To what extent does pain play a factor in the rehabilitation & treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis? Pain is the most common complaint of individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) and is also the usual reason for seeking advice. Effective pain management is of utmost important for patients with hip and knee OA. Because the natural history of OA is still poorly understood and there is currently no cure or treatment proven to slow OA progression, the main goals of OA treatment are the management and alleviation of pain, as well as the maintenance and improvement of functional capacity. The guidelines on hip and knee OA management emphasize the need for individualized multimodal approaches that involve a combination of non-pharmacological, pharmacological and surgical treatment modalities [1–3]. Jari Arokoski*: Jari Arokoski is Adjunct Professor in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio and Consultant at the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in Kuopio University Hospital. He received his medical degree from the University of Kuopio in 1990 and completed his specialisation in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in 1998 at the University of Kuopio. He finished his PhD thesis titled ‘Altered properties of articular cartilage and subchondral bone after long-term joint loading. An experimental study of young beagles’ in 1996. He became Adjunct Professor (docent) of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Kuopio in 2001. He received his Special Competence in Pain Management in 2001, in Rehabilitation Medicine in 2002, in Insurance Medicine in 2007 and in Medical Education in 2008. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications on different aspects of musculoskeletal issues particularly on cartilage structure and function, joint loading, physical function and gait in osteoarthritis and the effects of exercise and rehabilitation in knee and hip osteoarthritis. He is Chairman of the Working group for Current Care Guideline for Treatment of Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis in Finland (Finnish Medical Society Duodecim) and President of Finnish OsteoArthritis Research Society (FOARS).