Masoomeh Dashtyan - Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Faculty of Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Sedigheh Sadat Tavafian - Tarbiat Modares University
Kambiz Karimzadeh - Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj ,Iran.
Parviz Yazdanpanah - Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj ,Iran.

Aim: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the chronic diseases and are the main cause of long-term  physical disability. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and a devastating  disease and is the fourth leading cause of disability in the world that causes severe pain, decreased  function, decreased social interaction and ultimately quality of life in patients. There is no definitive cure  for osteoarthritis of the knee, because the changes caused by this complication are irreversible, but the clinical symptoms can be reduced and tissue damage can be delayed. Non-pharmacological therapies  such as physiotherapy and exercise therapy, if positive, can play an important role in treating this disease preventing the unpleasant complications of the disease.  Among the treatments for osteoarthritis, exercise therapy and knee protection behaviors seem to be one of the most effective, inexpensive and without side effects.  Conclusion: Given the increasing prevalence of osteoarthritis in women and their susceptibility to many diseases and other problems caused by not performing knee protection behaviors in women with osteoarthritis, communities should make this health problem as a priority to be solved.  In this review the prevalence, complication, risk factors and pain management of knee osteoarthritis have been discussed.

knee Osteoarthritis - Protective Behaviors- Pain- Muscle Strength- Postmenopausal Women.