Non-Surgical Management of Knee Osteoarthritis in the Military Health System (MHS)

Inclusion Criteria:

• TRICARE eligible beneficiaries (active duty, dependents, and military retired) witha primary complaint of knee pain.

• Able to speak and read English well enough to provide informed consent, follow studyinstructions and independently answer the questionnaires/surveys.

• Able to attend treatment sessions for a 4-week period.

• Age 18-60 years old

• The subject had an initial care visit in the last 90 days with a chief complaint ofknee pain, or is scheduled to have one within the week.

• Satisfies American College of Rheumatology (ACR) clinical criteria for diagnosis ofknee OA for at least one knee.

Exclusion Criteria:

• In the last year, the subject has received any invasive interventions includinginjections (corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, etc.) or surgery for their knee

• History of Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)

• Has previously received formal PT for the same knee (> 2 visits) in the last year

• Has consulted a surgeon for knee pain for either knee in the past year

• History of severe neurologic (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, etc.) or othercondition that prevents walking independently for at least 5 minutes or engaging ina physical activity/exercise program.

• Anyone leaving military service for other than regular retirement, pending a medicalevaluation board, discharge from the military for medical reasons, or pending orundergoing any litigation for an injury.

• Systemic disease that could otherwise be responsible for the subjects knee pain (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or psoriatic arthritis), non-musculoskeletalconditions causing knee pain, personal history of neoplasm, current or recent kneejoint infection, recent fall/trauma to knee, acute fracture of knee, lower extremityamputation, or other more likely primary musculoskeletal knee disorders (e.g.patellar tendinopathy, bursitis, runner's knee, etc.)

• Currently has a referral to orthopedics or physical therapy for a knee disorder