Osteoarthritis: The Facts [Paperback]

Osteoarthritis: The Facts aims to help patients and their carers better understand their condition with a view toward self-management.Osteoarthritis: The Factshelps patients and their carers better understand the condition, empowering patients with the knowledge and skills to actively take charge of their own health by knowing as much as they can about osteoarthritis, and finding out how this can be best managed.Part 1 details what osteoarthritis is, what causes it, who it affects, what the main symptoms are, how it is diagnosed, and what the long-term outcome is. Part 2 explains the potential aspects of management that can be used for osteoarthritis, including self-management strategies, exercise, diet, medications, surgical treatments, and alternative therapies. Osteoarthritis: The Factsalso includes a useful resources section, including information on support groups and websites, providing the reader with an opportunity to educate and empower themselves with tools that will help reduce their suffering.Part 1: Background to osteoarthritis1. What is osteoarthritis?2. Risk factors for osteoarthritis and how to prevent it?3. Symptoms and signs4. How is osteoarthritis diagnosed5. The outlook or prognosisPart 2: Management of Osteoarthritis6. The management of osteoarthritis - an overview7. The role of exercise8. The role of weight loss9. Complementary or alternative therapy10. Medicines used in osteoarthritis11. Device use12. Surgical therapy13. Depression and coping14. Developing self efficacy and health professionals that can help youAppendix 1: A typical case historyAppendix 2: Useful addressesGlossaryDavid J. Hunter,Florance and Cope Chair of Rheumatology, and Professor of Medicine, University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital, Australia,Daniel Prieto-Alhambra,Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology,