PAIN AND ORTHOPAEDICS · Health guide
Knee Osteoarthritis: Symptoms and Treatment Options
The symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, the role of movement and exercise, management of loading, and assessment of injection and surgical options.
Updated: · General information
What is knee osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis is a condition that affects not only the cartilage but also the other structures of the joint. It can cause pain, stiffness and difficulty with everyday movement. Factors such as age, previous injury and the load on the joint play a part; it does not progress at the same rate in everyone.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Pain on walking, on stairs and when sitting down or standing up, short-lived stiffness or swelling may occur. History and examination are important in the diagnosis; imaging is not essential in every person. Additional investigation may be needed if there are atypical symptoms or a suspicion of another disease.
Treatment options
Individually appropriate exercise, education and, for those who need it, weight management are the core approaches. Pain medication and other options are discussed with the physician, taking the risks into account. Supplements or injections are not regarded as routinely necessary for everyone. Where there is marked loss of function and an inadequate response to treatment, surgical assessment may be undertaken.
Do radiographic findings always match the pain?
In osteoarthritis, the imaging findings and the pain and daily limitation the person experiences may not be at the same level. The treatment plan takes into account the capacity for walking, stairs and getting up from a seated position. Limits are not placed on what a person can do simply on the basis of a change seen on an image.
Core goals in long-term management
Individually appropriate strength and endurance work, adjustment of activity and, where needed, weight management are addressed together. Injection and surgical options are not applied to everyone in the same order. Alongside the relief a method provides, its contribution to maintaining everyday movement is also monitored.
Your questions
Patient information
If I have osteoarthritis, will exercise wear the joint out?
Appropriately chosen exercise is one of the important components of treatment. The load and the type of movement should be adjusted to the person’s capacity.
Does an injection create new cartilage?
The fact that a treatment reduces pain does not mean that it regenerates cartilage. The expected benefit and the level of evidence should be discussed for the specific product and diagnosis.
