ABSTRACT
Arthritis has a tremendous impact on the U.S. economy and a substantial impact on functional capacity and activities of daily living of those who are affected. In 1997 alone, arthritic conditions cost the U.S. economy an estimated $86.2 billion, or nearly 1% of the entire U.S. gross domestic product for that same year (1). An estimated 40 million Americans had some form of arthritis in 1995. By the year 2020, an estimated 59.4 million will be affected (2). Specifically, osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee affects 6.1% of persons over age 30 (3). Osteoarthritis is the most common rheumatic disease, and it is second only to cardiovascular diseases in producing chronic disability (4).
