OSTEOARTHROSIS GENU- REHABILITATION MEDICINE APPROACH

Impairment, Disability, and Handicap

Other terms associated with rehabilitation include impairment, disability, and handicap. Impairment is the residual limitation resulting from disease, injury, or a congenital defect. Disability is the inability to perform some key life function. Handicap is the interaction of a disability with the environment.

Report from my office

Mrs. Emma was sent to me with working diagnosis: bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Using rehabilitation terminology, knee osteoarthrosis (OA genu) was her impairment. No limitation to perform activity of daily living (eating, bathing, grooming, toileting), means no disability. Chief complaint: very painful when walking (Visual Analog Scale/ VAS > 6), Handicap : yes.

Program : Goal : pain reduction

Regiment: Diode laser, output 90mW; 60 J , 3 times, every other day

Knee support

Discussion : Low Level Laser given to reduce pain.

Another modality, such as TENS, would not be helpful if VAS for pain > 6

Knee support : to reduce weight bearing , pain reducing is the result

Resulted: mobility: minimally pain while walking after 3^rd cold laser ;

no more handicap

Rehabilitation working diagnosis: Impairment : yes :OA Genu

Disability : no

Handicap : no

Program : Impairment: - glucosamine-chondroitine; Quadriiceps isometric exrecise

Knee support for Mrs. Emma - bilateral









Knee support check out

Smiling happily !!!