Nonprescription Analgesics and Self-management Strategies for Osteoarthritis: Patients Can Employ Numerous Measures to Alleviate Pain, Improve Mobility, and Boost Overall Health-Related Quality of Life.

OA most commonly affects the weight-bearing joints, including the knee and hip; OA can also affect the neck, lower back, feet, and hands.[156] OA symptoms typically develop gradually, and patients may present with an array of symptoms that may vary in degree of severity and clinical presentation. The degenerative joint disease osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis, affecting more than 32.5 million adults in the United States and more than 7% of the world population, representing more than 500 million individuals globally.[12] According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, OA is an ongoing public health concern, with projections continuing to increase due to the growing aging population and the ongoing obesity epidemic.[3] OA is one of the primary causes of pain and disability worldwide.[1-5] The pathogenesis of OA can be due to genetic, metabolic, or environmental factors, with the most common risk factors for OA including older age, women aged 50 or older, being overweight or obese, joint overuse or injury, and musculoskeletal abnormalities.[1-5 ]Some individuals also have a genetic susceptibility to developing OA.[1-5] Although there is no cure for OA, there are numerous measures that patients can employ to alleviate and/or minimize pain and to improve mobility and overall health-related quality of life. [Extracted from the article]