 Knee pain is a common disease among elderly populations. Knee joint, the largest joint in the human body, bears most of the body’s weight when walking, running or climbing stairs. Thus, knee joints are more prone to injuries and degeneration. Hyaluronic acid (HA) injection is often used to treat knee pain in patients who have already been treated with pain relievers and other treatments that did not work well.
 A number of factors can cause knee pain, including obesity and trauma. Osteoarthritis (OA), however, is another common cause of non-traumatic knee pain in the elderly population. Cartilage is a rubber-like padding that covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints. Osteoarthritis is a type of joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. The most common symptoms are pain, swelling, and limited movement in a joint.
 There are several different options to help you relieve knee pain. If you’re overweight, losing weight can reduce the strain on knee joints. Specific exercises and physical therapy can also help maintain knee function and mobility, especially in elderly patients. Moreover, medical treatments including using of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can alleviate pain. Your doctor may recommend treating by intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injections (also known as visco-supplementation) in cases where drugs and physiotherapy have not been effective.
 Hyaluronic acid is an anionic, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan distributed widely throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues. It is also a key component of synovial fluid, which can reduce articular cartilage friction of synovial joints during movement.
 HA polymer was traditionally extracted from animal tissues, typically rooster combs, and now it is mainly produced via bio-fermentation technology. With excellent viscoelasticity, high moisture retention capacity, and high biocompatibility, HA finds a wide-range of applications in medicine, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals.
 HA injections could replace missing joint lubricant, and they are currently approved by Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) used in knees as a joint-replacement fluid. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections will be injected directly into the joint to relief from pain and stiffness.
 TFDA recommends that you should fully discuss with your doctor about the potential benefits and risks of HA injection. Besides, be sure to be well aware of all the contraindications, precautions and side effects of the products. If you think you may be experiencing an adverse reaction that may reasonably be regarded as surgery-related or device-related, check with your health care professional immediately. If you would like to learn more about your devices, please visit the database at https://lmspiq.fda.gov.tw/web/DRPIQ/DRPIQLicSearch.

If you have device-related problems, please file reports electronically at http://qms.fda.gov.tw, or call the adverse reaction reporting line at 02-2396-0100.