Osteoarthritis :: Health, Diseases

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a super C problem throughout the world. As estimated by the World health Organization, it is one of the major causes of impaired determination that reduces quality of life world-wide and estimated to be the fourth leading cause of baulk by the class 2020 (Kraus et al., 2006 and Wluka, 2006). Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of chronic disability worldwide including Malaysia (Zakaria et al., 2009). As defined by Jette et al., 2002 disability is the impaired military operation of expected socially defined life tasks, in a typical sociocultural and bodily environment. Physical function terminal point, or difficulty with physical tasks and activities, is fundamental to the development of disability in OA. Pain is likely to be a central factor in the physical function limitation of knee OA, both due to its direct effects on function and as a route through which other factors operate. However, measuring sole(prenominal) the pain is n ot enough. Physiotherapy must know exactly what operable limitation experienced by the patient and help them to handle those rather of treating just the pain. In the study by Izal et al., 2010 they discovered that there was deviation between levels of disability and quality of life (QOL) of Spanish elderly hatful with OA knee. They found this disparity possible due to active coping strategies estimable by the patient such as positive self-statements, re-interpreting pain sensations, distraction, ignoring sensations, request and joint protection strategies. Knee Osteoarthritis prevalence is expected to cash advance significantly in the upcoming decades due to increasing life foretaste and decreasing physical activity, leading to a constant increase in body weight. Facing this situation, the WHO and the United Nations have declared the years 2000 to 2010 to be the Bone and Joint Decade (Rosemann et al., 2007). The exact prevalence of OA is difficult to watch over because of t he lack of use of standardized criteria. In epidemiological studies OA is often exposit by radiological criteria, however radiological disease especially when meek has poor correlation with the presence of pain. Studies found that in all populations, so far the prevalence of knee OA is higher(prenominal) than that of hip OA but this is much marked in Asian populations. In Malaysia, knee becomes the most common site for OA (Zakaria et al, 2009). Regarding prevalence, it is a frequently replicated result that women have a higher probability for developing OA, especially OA of the knee (Felson et al.