Because there is neither a cure nor effective disease-modifying drug therapies for osteoarthritis (OA), management of symptoms (e.g. pain, tenderness and swelling) is essential for those patients who are living with the disease. A variety of OA evidence-based management guidelines have been developed by notable international organizations: Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), American College of Rheumatology (ACR), European League Against Rheumatology (EULAR), American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), just to name a few. While the management recommendations presented in this module are widely prescribed practices across these expert bodies, they most closely follow the latest ACR guidelines.
DOWNLOAD PDFAdditional Resources: Find more resources for HCPs on caring for patients with OA.
OA Management Strategies
The strategies for OA management fall into two broad categories, which are typically used concurrently: pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic. This module will provide a general overview of both categories. Select Pharmacologic or Nonpharmacologic below to learn more about these management strategies.
Interpreting the 2019 ACR Guidelines
This downloadable infographic interprets recommendations from the 2019 ACR Guidelines for the management of hand, hip, and knee OA.
