From the Guidelines
Treatment for osteoarthritis should prioritize exercise therapy, weight management, and topical NSAIDs as first-line treatments, according to the most recent and highest quality study 1. The management of osteoarthritis involves a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches to manage pain and improve function. Key components of treatment include:
- Exercise therapy, which has been shown to have similar effects on pain and function as oral NSAIDs and paracetamol, with the added benefit of an excellent safety profile 1
- Weight management for overweight patients
- Topical treatments like capsaicin cream or NSAIDs (diclofenac gel) for localized pain relief
- Oral pain management with acetaminophen or NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, though these carry risks of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal side effects
- Intra-articular corticosteroid injections for temporary relief of flare-ups
- Consideration of duloxetine for pain management, particularly with a neuropathic component
- Joint replacement surgery as an option when conservative measures fail and pain significantly impacts quality of life. It's essential to consider the patient's values, preferences, and comorbidities in making treatment decisions, and to engage in shared decision-making between clinicians and patients 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
In patients with osteoarthritis, the therapeutic action of naproxen has been shown by a reduction in joint pain or tenderness, an increase in range of motion in knee joints, increased mobility as demonstrated by a reduction in walking time, and improvement in capacity to perform activities of daily living impaired by the disease
The treatment guidelines for osteoarthritis include the use of naproxen to reduce joint pain or tenderness, increase range of motion, and improve mobility. Key benefits of naproxen for osteoarthritis treatment include:
- Reduction in joint pain or tenderness
- Increase in range of motion in knee joints
- Increased mobility
- Improvement in capacity to perform activities of daily living impaired by the disease 2
From the Research
Osteoarthritis Treatment Guidelines
The treatment guidelines for osteoarthritis involve a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.
- Pharmacological Treatment:
- Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for patients with mild osteoarthritis 3.
- Oral NSAIDs are suggested for patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis, but should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration to control symptoms 3, 4.
- Duloxetine can be considered for patients with multiple-joint osteoarthritis and a high risk of NSAID-induced adverse events 3, 4.
- Intra-articular injections with glucocorticoids can be suggested for short-term pain relief in patients with severe osteoarthritis-related pain 3, 4.
- Non-Pharmacological Treatment:
- Exercise is recommended as a first-line conservative intervention approach for osteoarthritis, with strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of aerobic and strengthening exercise programs for improving pain and physical function in adults with mild-to-moderate knee and hip osteoarthritis 5.
- Physical activity, in the form of structured exercise programs for muscle strengthening, joint mobility, proprioception, and aerobic exercises, is considered a core treatment for people with osteoarthritis 6.
- Topical capsaicin may represent an effective and safe alternative for pain management in osteoarthritis, with a good safety profile and efficacy in reducing osteoarthritis pain of the hand, knee, hip, or shoulder 7.