Knee Osteoarthritis - Fact Sheet

What is a Knee Osteoarthritis ?

The knee joint is made up of the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (the shin bone). On top/between these two bones sits the patella (kneecap). Within the joint are two menisci, articular cartilage, and the main supporting ligaments of the knee. The weight-bearing nature of the knee joints predisposes the knees to gradual wear and tear, which can impact the articular cartilage of the joint, leading to osteoarthritis (OA).

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Signs and symptoms knee osteoarthritis?

Pain around the knee joint or shin
Pain after long walks, or after standing for a long duration
Joint stiffness, usually in the morning
Pinching type pain with particular movements, sometimes associated with sharp “locking”-type pain
Pain is usually intermittent, off/on pain, of varying severity
Pain with activities involving loading the knees, such as walking uphill or climbing stairs.
Noticeable loss of joint space between the femur and tibia, on X-Ray

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis ?

Keep Moving! – When people experience pain from OA, they can become less active, which often makes their pain worse. Light stretching, walking, and general exercise decreases stiffness and weakness and improves pain, and preserves the strength of the knee joints!

Tailored Clinical Exercise – will help to strengthen the muscles that support your knees (including your quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, as well as hip stabilisers and rotators), thus decreasing the severity and re-occurrence of your knee pain. Osteoarthritis in general is an irreversible condition BUT building muscle bulk and strength around the affected joints can help reduce the symptoms of OA.

Referral – If the Knee OA pain is unrelenting, or the joint degeneration is severe enough, referral to an orthopaedic surgeon may be indicated, for a potential Total Knee Replacement.

Other things to be aware of:

Flare ups – Re-occurrences of osteoarthritic pain often occur, but it is important to remember that this is a normal pain behaviour for the condition. Complete rest (such as bed rest) is NEVER the answer – keep moving, keep positive – your symptoms will eventually settle down.

Take medication – During acute flare ups, painkillers and anti-inflammatories can help control the severity of your symptoms. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what medication is right for you and be aware of possible side effects. In severe cases, medication can control the pain so that physical activity can begin.

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