title: Knee osteoarthritis: primary care using noninvasive devices and biomechanical principles.
abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is an epidemic for which there is no known cure. There is enormous popular demand for noninvasive and nonpharmacologic therapies for OA, and there is a pressing need for primary care physicians to respond by updating their pattern of practice. Despite increasing concern about the capacity of our health care system to meet rising demands, routine primary care for knee OA has changed little over several decades. This article introduces physicians to many of the most important noninvasive devices used in the conservative management of symptomatic knee OA.
authors.affiliation: MGH Institute of Health Professions, Graduate Programs in Physical Therapy, Charlestown Navy Yard, 36 First Avenue, Boston, MA 02129-4557, USA. kdgross@mghihp.edu
authors.forename: K Douglas
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hillstrom
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces; D002183:Canes; D006801:Humans; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*