Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease marked by low-grade inflammation, cartilage degradation, osteophyte formation, and joint space narrowing. Many individuals continue to experience pain, excess body weight, and functional limitations despite the effectiveness of physical therapy. Understanding how nutrition influences OA progression and symptom management can strengthen physical therapists' ability to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based care. This manuscript reviews OA pathophysiology, diagnostic, and treatment approaches and highlights the role of nutrition in supporting physical therapy interventions to improve patient outcomes.
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Russ et al. (2026) studied this question.
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