Osteoarthritis »

Dr Nigel Arden gradiated from St. Thomas's Hospital, London in 1986. His research interests include the epidemiology and pathophysiology of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and the role of vitamin D in musculoskeletal health. He is a Scientific Ambassador to the International Osteoporosis Foundation and a member of the MRC Clinical Trials Unit Steering Group. Dr David J Hunter's research interests include the epidemiology and treatment of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a common disorder of the joints that affects more than 2 million people in the UK, and studies suggest that this number will double in the next 20 years. The condition is strongly associated with ageing and is believed to affect up to 30% of people over 60 years of age. There are a number of misconceptions surrounding osteoarthritis and this, combined with the lack of effective drug treatments, often leaves patients dispirited and confused about their condition.

Osteoarthritis: The Facts helps patients and their carers better understand their condition with a view towards self-management. The text is designed to be easy to read and is organized into two main parts. Part 1 details what osteoarthritis is, what causes it, who it affects, what the main symptoms are, how it is diagnosed and what the long-term outcome is. Part 2 summarises the current management of osteoarthritis, including the role of exercise, diet, medication, "nutriceuticals", alternative therapies, and surgery. The book also includes a useful resources section, including information on support groups, websites, and further reading.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Hamid Bashir, MD(Washington University Medical Center)
Description:This quick guide to osteoarthritis starts with a general description of the disease and continues with a stepwise approach to treatment and treatment effectiveness. It is written in lay terms to appeal to a large audience.
Purpose:This is basically a well illustrated book of facts that does a good job of educating lay readers about osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder.
Audience:Although it is intended to provide patients with general knowledge of osteoarthritis, it is also a nice summary for general practitioners and students. Since it is written at a basic level, it will not add much to a specialist's knowledge or change the way things are done in the office setting.
Features:The book covers the whole spectrum of degenerative joint disease starting with background, disease process, and stepwise management. The best aspect of the book is its readability and relevance to lifestyle changes. An interesting feature is incorporation of alternative forms of therapy for this disorder that may not be widely accepted by rheumatologists, but are available options for patients.
Assessment:This handbook will greatly help patients understand osteoarthritis and what to expect as it progresses. It also identifies key personnel who treat patients with this disorder, ranging from specialists to chiropractors. It is as good as any other book that addresses patients' questions about general disorders.

Pt. 1 The background to osteoarthritis

1 What is osteoarthritis? 3

2 Why do we get osteoarthritis? 9

3 Joints and osteoarthritis 17

4 What are the symptoms and signs associated with osteoarthritis? 31

5 How is osteoarthritis diagnosed? 39

6 The long-term outlook for osteoarthritis 47

Pt. 2 The management of osteoarthritis

7 The management of osteoarthritis 57

8 Which health professionals are involved in osteoarthritis management? 69

9 Exercise 79

10 Diet 91

11 Glucosamine, vitamins, and osteoarthritis 103

12 Medicines used in osteoarthritis 109

13 Injection therapies 119

14 Pacing and maintaining activities 125

15 Device use and other therapies 135

16 Thoughts and emotions 141

17 Surgery 155

18 Complementary therapies 171

Useful addresses 183

Glossary 187

Index 193