Viscosupplementation Specialist

What is viscosupplementation?

Viscosupplementation is a procedure in which your provider at Synergy Rehabilitation & Wellness Center injects hyaluronic acid into a joint. 

Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the synovial fluid surrounding the joint, where it absorbs shock and provides lubrication that allows smooth movement between the bones.

When might I need viscosupplementation?

The team at Synergy Rehabilitation & Wellness Center recommends viscosupplementation to help relieve the pain and joint stiffness caused by osteoarthritis. Viscosupplementation is usually considered when other conservative treatments have failed to improve your symptoms.

Patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis often have less hyaluronic acid in the joint fluid compared to people with healthy joints. The loss of lubrication contributes to joint pain and in some cases, may accelerate joint degeneration.

What should I know about osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that develops over years of wear and tear on your joints. Constantly using the joint eventually leads to the breakdown of articular cartilage. 

This cartilage covers the ends of bones in the joint, allowing them to move smoothly without grating against one another.

As the cartilage wears away, bone rubs against bone every time you move, causing pain and limiting movement. Since osteoarthritis gets progressively worse, the cartilage degeneration increases, the joint becomes inflamed, and bone spurs develop.

What should I expect during and after viscosupplementation?

After applying a local anesthetic, your provider at Synergy Rehabilitation & Wellness Center uses ultrasound imaging to see inside the joint and guide the needle precisely into the joint capsule. Most patients need a series of hyaluronic injections over the course of a few weeks to achieve optimal results.

Viscosupplementation is typically used for knee osteoarthritis, so following your injection, you need to avoid putting too much weight on the knee for a short time. 

Then when your symptoms begin to improve, your provider recommends a rehabilitation program to strengthen the muscles supporting your knee and to improve your range of motion.

Every patient responds differently to viscosupplementation. However, many have pain relief that lasts 2-6 months, and often longer if they get follow-up hyaluronic acid treatments.

If you suffer from the pain of knee osteoarthritis, call Synergy Rehabilitation & Wellness Center or book an appointment online.