1.What is Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee?
Knee joint is lubricated by synovial fluid, which contains hyaluronic acid and acts as the knee's shock absorber and protects cartilage coverings from wear and tear.
With OA of the knee, less synovial fluid is produced naturally in the knee joint. Gradually, as joint fluid continues to break down and cartilage deteriorates, bones may start to rub against each other, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling and limited joint activity.
2.What are the causes of osteoarthritis?
Factors that can increase your risk of osteoarthritis include: Older age(The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age);The Sex: Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn't clear why; Obesity; Joint injuries; Repeated stress on the joint; Genetics; Bone deformities; Certain metabolic diseases.
3.Why is Hyaluronic Acid Injection Effective for Osteoarthritis?
A healthy knee joint contains up to 4 mL of joint fluid. Hyaluronic acid is a main component of the joint fluid. It gives the joint fluid its viscous, slippery quality, which does the following:
Enables the bones' cartilage-covered surfaces to glide against each other, thereby reducing joint friction.
Adds cushion to protect joints during impact.
HA is a natural mucopolysaccharide in synovial fluid and is the major and most important component;
High viscoelasticity, lubricity, physical alterability of HA provide better lubrication and shock absorption;
The properties of the synovial fluid are dependent on the concentration of HA and its molecular weight.
Exogenous HA can enhance chondrocyte HA synthesis, prevent the degradation of cartilage and promote its regeneration. Moreover it can reduce the production of proinflammatory mediators and matrix metalloproteinases involved in OA pathogenesis[1].
4.Who Can Get Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis?
The first line of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee is not hyaluronic acid injection. When considering this course of treatment, they who:
Have moderate knee osteoarthritis with symptoms that affect daily living.
Do not take pain medication because these persons:
Have little or no benefit from pain relieving medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and/or steroids (tablets or injectable). Some people may also choose to avoid these medications.
Are at a risk of side effects such as kidney damage, heart problems, and/or abdominal bleeding with long-term use of NSAIDs.
Have other conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and cannot take medications such as steroids.
Show improvement after the first round of treatment. Such cases may benefit from additional hyaluronic acid injections when the osteoarthritis symptoms reappear.
Are not eligible for surgery, want to postpone surgery, or do not want to have surgery.
What is SingJoint?
It is a kind of colorless transparent liquid gel which is made of hyaluronic acid, from streptococcal fermentation metabolites.
It is indicated for the treatment of symptoms of osteoarthritis of knee. By replacing and supplementing the pathological synovial fluid in the osteoarthritic joints, it reduces pain and improves joint function.
SingJoint Features
[1]. Migliore A, Procopio S. Effectiveness and utility of hyaluronic acid in osteoarthritis.
Mini Rev Clin Cases Mineral Bone Metab. 2015;12(1):31–33.
