The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers a clinician's guide that summarizes the lack of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of three treatments for knee osteoarthritis.
The guide describes the theories behind the use of glucosamine and chondroitin, viscosupplementation, and arthroscopic surgery, but cites data showing an overall lack of benefit from any of these three therapies. To obtain copies of the clinician's guide and a consumer guide to knee osteoarthritis, visit www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov