Glossary of Terms

Joint stiffness

• Either a symptom or a physical sign of reduced loss of movement in a joint.

Joint

• Where ends of two or more bones meet.

Joint fluid therapy

• Also called viscosupplementation; a series of treatments where hyaluronan is injected into the knee to help decrease pain and increase the cushioning and lubrication of synovial fluid that is osteoarthritic; hyaluronan is similar to the fluid that occurs naturally in the knee – synovial fluid – which helps to lubricate the knee, reducing friction and protecting from pain.

Joint replacement

• Also called total joint replacement; surgical procedure to remove and replace an arthritic or damaged joint with an artificial joint, called a prosthesis; joint replacement should be considered only after other treatment options have failed to provide adequate relief from pain or disability.