title: A closer look at osteoarthritis.
abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis affecting 26.9 million Americans. OA is a degenerative disorder of the synovial joint that leads to pain, stiffness, and decreased function of the affected joint. An understanding of both the nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic management of OA is essential for nurse practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Samford University, Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing, Birmingham, Ala, USA.
authors.forename: Lora R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Shelton
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic