1. You can still enjoy life by delaying
or limiting osteoarthritis
symptoms with proper self-care. It
has been shown that weight loss
greatly reduces the risk for
osteoarthritis in the knee.

2. Therefore, regular exercise is
imperative. It also helps strengthen
the muscle, possibly stimulating
cartilage growth. Although, high-
impact sports such as running should
be avoided.

3.  In addition, a balanced diet including
Antioxidant vitamins C and E is believed to
provide some protection.
 Vitamin D and calcium are recommended for
strong bones. The recommended daily dose of
calcium is 1000-1200 mg.
 The current guideline for vitamin D is 400 IU
per day. You should not take more than 1200 IU
of vitamin D per day.

4. The application of heat, such as hot soaks and
warm paraffin wax treatments can relieve pain.
Many people also claim reduced symptoms by
wearing assistive devices which improve function
of moveable parts of the body or to align, align,
support, or correct deformities. Splints or braces
help with joint alignment and weight
redistribution. Other examples include canes,
crutches or walkers, and orthopedic footwear.

5. Lastly, there are many over-the-counter medications
which can temporarily relieve pain. Acetaminophen
(Tylenol) is the first drug recommended for
osteoarthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) are also commonly used for arthritis pain.
These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil),
ketoprofen (Orudis, and naproxen (Aleve). Newer
OTC preparations include glucosamine sulfate and
chondroitin, which are natural substances found in the
joint fluid. Chondroitin is thought to promote an
increase in the making of the building blocks of
cartilage (collagen and proteoglycans) as well as
having an anti-inflammatory effect.

6. Glucosamine may also stimulate
production of the building blocks of
cartilage in addition to being an anti-
inflammation agent. People with diabetes
should consult with their doctor first since
Glucosamine has been found to increase
blood sugar in animal studies. A recent
study showed that glucosamine slowed
the progression of osteoarthritis in the
knee.