Журнал новых физиотерапевтических методов

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Osteoarthritis: From Physiotherapy to Advanced-Therapy Medicinal Products and Back Again

Joaquim Vives, Marta Caminal and Arnau Pla

Aging and injuries can lead to damage to articular cartilage, which can eventually result in impaired joint function. Osteoarthritis is a painful and sometimes disabling condition considered a public health concern that represents the leading osteoarticular pathology in developed countries. It is difficult to manage with current treatment options. Physiotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions mainly focus on pain relief and improvement of joint function whilst surgical approaches do not successfully restore hyaline articular cartilage. The worldwide demand for therapies to promote the efficient resolution of articular cartilage damage may be approached by tissue-engineering techniques due to the complexity of pathologies involving two types of distinct tissues (articular cartilage and subchondral bone) with their own particular biomechanical and biochemical characteristics. In addition to outlining established treatments of osteoarticular pathology, we will also discuss recent advances in the orthopaedic field that had led to the start of clinical trials for novel cell-based therapies.