The Boomer Generation And Osteoarthritis

Main Category: Bones / Orthopedics
Also Included In: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 18 Aug 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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This year, the oldest of the baby boomers will turn 60. This generation places an emphasis on staying fit and eating healthy, but boomers can't avoid aging.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is one of the most prevalent conditions for this generation. While knee surgery is an option, alternative and less invasive treatments, like SUPARTZ Joint Fluid Therapy, are also available.

"Joint fluid therapy can provide relief for debilitating knee pain without drugs or surgery," said Ken Reali, vice president and general manager for the Smith & Nephew Clinical Therapies division. "It provides both doctors and patients with greater options and control over their treatment of osteoarthritis knee pain."

Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive degenerative disease in which the joint cartilage gradually wears away. It afflicts more than 20 million people nationally and some estimates suggest that as many as 70 million Americans will suffer from some form of arthritis within the next 20 years. It strikes not only older people, but also hits people in their 30s and 40s who have had damage from accidents or sports-related injuries. Without treatment, the pain associated with osteoarthritis increases over time.

While most physicians agree it should be a last resort, in recent years, orthopaedic specialists have been reporting increases in knee replacement surgery. In fact, more than 400,000 procedures are performed annually and analysts expect that number to continue to increase as the boomer generation ages.

Because they typically require a hospital stay of several days, knee replacements are also among the most expensive medical procedures -- the average hospital bill alone runs over $30,000.

Other less invasive treatments are available and often provide substantial relief from the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. Joint fluid therapy is one of the most popular options. This course of treatment involves injecting a substance called hyaluronan into the knee. Hyaluronan is a natural substance similar to the fluid found in particularly high amounts in joint tissues and in the fluid (synovial fluid) that fills the joints. The body's own hyaluronan acts like a lubricant and shock absorber in the synovial fluid of a healthy joint.

SUPARTZ Joint Fluid Therapy, marketed in the United States by Smith & Nephew, is the most prescribed joint fluid therapy in the world, with over 155 million treatments administered. Sidelined by knee pain in 2003, Joan Reynolds went to her physician for advice. He discovered a meniscus tear in her right leg and osteoarthritis in both knees. Joan went through a course of physical therapy, tried over-the-counter pain relief medications and even the COX II inhibitors Celebrex and Mobic, but her pain persisted.

It was then that Joan's Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Peter Vitanzo Jr. from Philadelphia's Rothman Institute, suggested trying joint fluid therapy. After a course of treatment with SUPARTZ, she had no discomfort at all.

Joan was once again enjoying working out at the gym several days a week, taking walks around her neighborhood and running errands. Without the constant pain of osteoarthritis consuming her life, Joan is much happier and gets to spend even more time with her friends and family.

While this form of treatment isn't the best option for everyone, it provides substantial relief to many who experience nagging osteoarthritic knee pain. As the baby boomer generation ages, ailments such as osteoarthritis will become more prevalent. The good news is that medical advances and a wider array of treatment options are helping to make the golden years a little brighter and far less painful.

To learn more about osteoarthritis of the knee or joint fluid therapy, ask your doctor or visit ManageKneePain.com.
Smith & Nephew Clinical Therapies
ManageKneePain.com

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