All About Osteoarthritis: The Definitive Resource for Arthritis Patients and Their Families

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the second most common cause of disability (and most common after age 65) in the United States, yet few patients know much about the condition or effective management strategies for it. All About Osteoarthritis aims to educate patients about what osteoarthritis is and how to cope with it.

Nancy E. Lane and Daniel J. Wallace, both rheumatologists and leading authorities on osteoarthritis, explain the disease in detail over 13 chapters, including chapters targeting the spine, upper body and extremities, and lower body. Diagrams clarify the medical descriptions. Next, 11 chapters cover management of the disease, including assistive devices, exercises (illustrated), medications, local medical therapies, and surgery. The authors discuss dietary supplements briefly, explaining which ones have supporting research.

The information is comprehensive and credible, but the style is dry ("in order to have arthritis, there must exist a problem with bones, joints, cartilage, or their supporting structures," for example), lacking the warmth, pep, and personality of most self-help health books. Recommended for arthritis sufferers who want current, credible information about their disease and don't mind an academic style. --Joan Price