Effects of conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Aim : The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis by the selected parameters. Methods of the study : The study included 74 patients, both genders, aged between 52-73 years with clinical and radiological signs of osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients were divided in two groups. The first group - patients with osteoarthritis of the knee without comorbidity treated with nonsteroid antireumatics and physical therapy and the other group - patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and cardiovascular comorbidity treated Paracetamol tablets 2xl, lighter opiate in the evening, outpatient physical therapy and individual exercises at home. Results : Findings showed that the total sample was more represented in women than men. Statistically, more frequent (p <0.05) sleeping pain occurred in subjects with comorbidity - 73.7% compared to subjects without comorbidity - 55.6%. The duration of physical therapy was statistically significant (p <0.05) longer in the comorbidity group and was 13.3 ± 1.8 (10-15 days) compared to the noncomorbid group at 11.5 ± 1 , 9 days (range 10-15 days). After 4 months, the VAS score was slightly lower in the noncomorbid group and was 3.9 ± 0.5 (range 7.8-9.4) versus the comorbidity group - 4.3 ± 1.7 (range 3 , 1 to 9.7). Conclusion : Osteoarthritis is a chronically degenerative disease of the elderly population. New findings from the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis, as well as the knowledge about the risks of non-steroidal antireumatics, give priority to physical therapy, analgetics and topical drug administration. Osteoarthritis therapy trend is the maximum self-reliant involvement of patients in a permanent treatment program. Keywords: knee osteoarthritis, conservative treatments