What Causes Osteoarthritis of the Knee?

Before I discuss what causes osteoarthritis of the knee let me review what healthy cartilage in the knee is made from. The cartilage in the knee joint is called hyaline cartilage or articular cartilage.  It is found at the ends of joints so that it allows for smooth movements.  It is made up of the following:

• 70% Water
• 15% Collagen (a protein).  Type II
• 15% Proteoglycans (protein), Chondrocytes (cartilage forming cells), non collagen proteins, lipids and organic materials

In a healthy knee, cartilage is always in the process of being remodeled due to normal wear and tear of the knee joint. Hyaline cartilage is constantly being broken down by the enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase, and being replaced and rebuilt by chondrocytes (cartilage cells).  In a healthy knee there is a balance between cartilage cells that are rebuilding and replacing cartilage and enzymes that are breaking the cartilage down. Unfortunately, genetics, aging, weight, disease, surgery and injuries to the knee all play a role in contributing to throwing off that balance and allowing more cartilage to be broken down then regenerated.  When the amount of cartilage is being degraded faster than it is being synthesized by chondrocytes than cartilage naturally degenerates.

One of the main proteins that is believed to be responsible for causing this imbalance in enzyme activity and inhibiting cartilage development is interleukin-1.  This cytokine creates inflammation in the joint, it stimulates more of the enzyme that destroys cartilage, it does not allow collagen to be produced, and it suppresses chondrocytes from producing proteoglycans.

It is reasonable to assume that if interleukin-1 was inhibited, and the number of chondrocytes outnumbered the enzyme that destroyed cartilage then the effects of osteoarthritis would be negligible.

Click here to read more about How Cold Laser Therapy Helps Stave off the Effects of Osteoarthritis in the Knee by Inhibiting Interleukin-1 and Stimulating Chondrocytes

If you live in the Dallas, Fort Worth or surrounding areas call our office at 214- 596-1051 to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.

Or if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief!

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Professional for the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain and Joint Pain in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”

Recently Released: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Study About The Positive Effect Of Low-Level Laser (Cold Laser Therapy) In Knee Osteoarthritis

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to find out whether Low level laser therapy (cold laser therapy) actually increases circulation and blood flow in the knee and decreases knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.  Patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis were randomly separated into two groups.  One group received cold  laser treatments the other group received placebo cold laser therapy.  The placebo group received treatments from an ineffective laser that had the same appearance as the laser that worked.   Patients were examined before the study, 2 weeks into the study, immediately after the study and 2 months after completing the study.  As part of the examination thermography, knee flexion and knee joint circumference were measured. Knee joint pressure sensitivity along with the visual analog scale (pain scale) were also measured and recorded.

The results showed that the group treated with low level laser therapy (cold laser therapy) felt a significant improvement in pain, the knee circumference reduced (due to swelling reduction), pressure sensitivity decreased, and knee joint flexion increased.

On the other hand, the group treated with the placebo laser experienced NO change in pain, and there wasn’t an increase in joint flexion.   The placebo group also experienced no significant decrease in knee circumference (there wasn’t a decrease in swelling),  or a decrease in pressure sensitivity.

The results of this study clearly demonstrate that the use of low-level laser therapy (cold laser therapy) reduces pain in patients suffering with Knee Osteoarthritis.  Additionally, low-level laser therapy improves microcirculation in the treated area, reduces swelling, as well as helps increase knee joint mobility.

If you suffer with knee pain, swelling and tenderness due to osteoarthritis then Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program is considered a complete treatment plan that combines low-level laser treatments (cold laser treatments), non-weight bearing exercises, and other modalities that promote rehabilitation of the knee.  Every patients program is different depending on whether they suffer from arthritis, ‘bone on bone’, meniscus tears, bursitis, tendonitis, Baker’s Cyst, post surgical arthroscopic knee pain, or a combination of the listed conditions.  If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area call our office at 214- 596-1051 to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.

Or if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief!

At the DFW Spine & Joint Center we also have programs available that can help most musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, disc and nerve problems, hip, ankle, foot, hand and wrist pain, etc… Dr. Robert Hanson, an associate at the DFW Spine & Joint Center, offers a very successful non-surgical program that treats herniated, bulging, degenerated discs, stenosis, and pinched nerves with Cold Laser/Spinal Decompression Therapy.

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Professional of the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain and Joint Pain in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area since 2001.”

Hegedus B, Viharos L, Gervain M, Gálfi M..  Photomed Laser Surg. 2009 Aug;27(4):577-84. PMID: 19530911 [PubMed - in process]</small>