New Treatment for Arthritic Knees

A new treatment for arthritis that strikes knees can help some people return to a more active lifestyle. "Arthritic knees tend to be missing a natural fluid that protects the joint," says Dr. David Lintner, an orthopedic surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine. "Now there is evidence that replacing this lubrication provides at least temporary relief from arthritis." The Food and Drug Administration recently approved two gel-like substances designed to be injected in the knee to substitute for the body's natural fluid. "With the injections, you can have relief that lasts six months, perhaps more, without taking anti-inflammatory medications," Dr. Lintner says. This can help people increase their activity - one of the keys to preventing arthritis. Exercise, such as walking and bicycling, helps build muscles in the legs, which support and protect the knee.

-- From Baylor College of Medicine

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Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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URL: http://www.tmc.edu/health_briefs/02_15_98-knees.html