what is visco

Visco is a prefix used in physics to form terms relating to viscosity. Viscosity is a measure of a fluids resistance to flow, and it is affected by factors such as temperature and pressure. In medical terms, visco refers to viscosupplementation, a treatment for knee arthritis. In viscosupplementation, a gel-like fluid called hyaluronic acid is injected into the knee joint to act as a lubricant and enable bones to move smoothly. This procedure is relatively quick and can be done during a normal office visit. Viscosupplementation has been FDA approved for osteoarthritis of the knee since 1997. Candidates for viscosupplementation include individuals who have chronic, persistent knee pain despite trials of conservative treatment, those who cannot take non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and those for whom surgery is not an option or who would like to delay surgery.