Table 3

Intervention categories

Non-pharmacological modalities of treatment (NP)Pharmacological modalities of treatment (P)Surgical modalities of treatment (S)

  1. General information and advice (education, regular contact with caregiver, lifestyle alterations, etc.)

  2. Exercise and therapy (physical and occupational therapy, aerobic, muscle strength, ROM training, water exercise, etc.)

  3. Weight loss

  4. Walking and other aids (eg, canes, wheeled walkers, assistive technology such as orthoses, braces, insoles)

  5. Thermal modalities, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), acupuncture, etc

  • Paracetamol (acetaminophen)

  • NSAIDs (topical or oral)

  • Intra-articular injections with corticosteroids or hyaluronate

  • Nutraceuticals (eg, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, rosehip powder)

  • Opioids (weak: tramadol, codeine etc.; stronger: morphine, etc)

  • Surgery (joint preserving; osteotomy and resurfacing and partial or total joint replacement)

  • NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; ROM, range of motion.