Osteoarthritis (OA)of knee - as the name suggests its the degenerative inflammatory disease of joints. Osteoarthritis is commonly seen in postmenopausal females. because of low estrogen level and superadded obesity in 40's knee joint is first affected. however it does affect the elderly male population too.

pain in the knee joint on walking, squatting, are usual complaints. later the pain is also at rest and worsens during morning, swelling accompanies the pain.

early intervention and early physiotherapy helps in delaying the disease and maintains quality of life.

pharmaceutical management in the early part of the disease comprises of pain-killers and calcium supplements progressing to glucosamine drugs and steroid management. Total knee replacement is the surgical option for full blown cases. however if physiotherapy is started early in the initial part of the disease, it helps in strengthening the knee and hip muscles also manipulative techniques and electro-modalities help relieve the pain, the main objective of physiotherapy in osteoarthritis is to delay the surgical option and maintain good quality of life as long as possible