The Impact of Obesity on Knee

Osteoarthritis Symptoms and

Surgical Outcomes
Osteoarthritis (OA), or _____________________
_____________, is the most common form of

arthritis, affecting more than _____________

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adults in the United States.Osteoarthritis

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results from damage to or breakdown of

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__________ between bones, with the _______

being the most common _____________________

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affected by OA. The _____________________ of
knee osteoarthritis significantly increases
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with age.

Knee OA is a _____________________, with many

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risk factors playing a role in symptomatic

findings and ________________________. Risk
factors for knee OA include __________,
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______________________________________________________

, genetics, and gender

_____________________

(occurs more commonly in women than

men).

Common knee surgeries, such as __________

______________________ (ACL) repair and
arthroscopic meniscal surgery, may
increase a patient’s risk of developing
OA,in part because of alterations in gait
after surgery. Evidence also suggests that
varus _____________________ increases the risk of

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developing OA in the medial _________________

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aspect of the knee.In patients who are

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________________, increased compressive load

on the medial compartment during weight-

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bearing activities can result in medial
tibiofemoral OA
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It is important for primary care providers to
educate their patients about _________________
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____________ factors for knee OA, such as

obesity, so that patients can incorporate

changes into their daily routine to improve
symptoms of knee pain
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Chief complaints from patients with knee

OA may include, but are not limited to,
knee pain (including at night), _____________
____________, stiffness, _____________, decreased

range of motion, _________________________ of

daily living, and disability.
A thorough _____________________ of a patient’s
history can help identify risk factors or
potential causes of knee OA. _______________
and physical examinations findings also
should be considered when diagnosing

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knee OA

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of the knee in patients with
__________________

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OA show cartilage loss and the resultant
narrowing of the joint space and bone
spurs around the joint .However, symptom
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severity in knee OA does not always
correspond with _____________________.Pain is a
subjective finding, making it difficult to
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determine why some people with OA are

more symptomatic than others.
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Treatment Options for Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a __________________,
progressive disease, and treatment goals
are targeted toward _______________ symptoms
and slowing disease _________________. A wide
variety of conservative treatment options
are available for knee OA.
First-line _____________________ treatment
options for knee OA include topical or oral
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) and _____________________
injections.However, these options may be

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limited by adverse effects and are not

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recommended for long-term use.Other

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recommended treatments include
_____________________, duloxetine, ______________

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_____________________, and tramadol.

Nonpharmacologic options such as

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lifestyle recommendations — exercise

(__________, strength training, _____________________
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______________, and aquatic exercise), tai chi,

___________________ knee braces, canes, and

weight loss — are strongly recommended

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for people with knee OA. Alternative

therapies that may reduce OA pain
complaints include acupuncture, cognitive
behavioral therapy, kinesiotaping,
patellofemoral braces, ________________________,
thermal interventions, and yoga.The
_____________________ effectiveness of those

alternative therapies, however, has not

been confirmed.
When knee OA becomes ___________________ to
conservative treatment measures and a
patient’s quality of life is affected, ____________

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______________ should be considered. Several

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surgical options are considered _____________

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treatments for knee OA. Common

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surgeries to treat knee OA include _________
_________________________(TKR),

unicompartmental knee replacement,

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_______________, arthroscopy, and ________________

_________________.
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Multiple variables must be considered

when determining which treatment option
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or _______________________ is most appropriate

for a patient. Weight management
interventions are an important step,
regardless of whether a patient undergoes
conservative or surgical treatment for
knee OA.