The human body is made up of various segments like bones, tendons, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, etc. All these components have a unique and vital role to play to ensure the normal and healthy working of the body. However, with the onset of old age and improper care, these components start to weaken and lose their health, giving birth to various problems and diseases in a person. One such condition is known as knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis in the knee refers to the situation where the cartilage, (which is a flexible substance preventing inter bone friction between joints) present in the knee starts to degenerate or break down. This problem usually occurs over a long period of time and in 4 stages. There exist various types of therapy to cure knee osteoarthritis, the most recent and radical being shockwave therapy for knee osteoarthritis
The stages of knee osteoarthritis and their treatment.
As mentioned above knee osteoarthritis refers to the phenomenon of weakening of the cartilage present in joints of the human body. The most obvious and common form of treatment for early-stage knee osteoarthritis is physical therapy. This is a long-term and tedious process that starts to show results and improvement in the patient over long periods of time like months or maybe even years. This is a slow and radical form of treatment and involves minimal drugs and medication. However, in today’s times more radical and quicker methods are being launched every day, shockwave therapy for knee osteoarthritis being the latest one of them. This treatment option sounds immensely complicated and even terrifying to some, but in reality, it is a non-surgical non-invasive treatment option, that provides minimal pain and slight discomfort to the patient undergoing treatment. This treatment is performed under the care and supervision of qualified specialists only and most patients who have experienced this claim that it works quickly and eases long-term joint pain. However, like every new medical miracle that seems too good to be true, this too is. Shockwave therapy is a relatively new medical procedure and is still in its early stages. Before opting for shockwave therapy for knee osteoarthritis, one must do thorough research and consult multiple specialists.
Undergoing any medical procedure requires the patient and their families to consult various doctors and specialists, so as to understand the risks involved in any procedure thoroughly. It is very important that a patient as well as their families assess all pros and cons very well and make an educated and informed decision.