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\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\tWho Gets Knee Osteoarthritis?<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
While knee osteoarthritis is frequently associated with aging, it can affect individuals at various stages of life.
Common risk factors include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Age:<\/strong> The risk naturally increases as we get older due to decades of joint use.<\/li>\n
- Previous Joint Injuries:<\/strong> Past trauma, such as an ACL tear or meniscus injury, can change joint mechanics and accelerate wear.<\/li>\n
- Weight:<\/strong> Carrying excess body weight places additional mechanical stress on weight-bearing joints like the knee.<\/li>\n
- Genetics:<\/strong> A family history of joint degeneration or structural alignment issues can increase susceptibility.<\/li>\n
- Occupational Stress:<\/strong> Repetitive heavy lifting, kneeling, or high-impact stress can contribute to cartilage degradation over time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t
Symptoms and Diagnosis<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Common Symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n
The experience of knee osteoarthritis varies significantly from person to person; two individuals with similar joint imaging can have completely different daily physical experiences. Common signs include:<\/p>\n\t\t\t
Activity-Related Pain:<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Discomfort that typically flares up during or after movement, such as walking, climbing stairs, or standing for long periods.<\/p>\n\t\t\t
Joint Stiffness: <\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
A feeling of tightness in the knee, particularly first thing in the morning or after prolonged periods of sitting.<\/p>\n\t\t\t
Swelling and Tenderness: <\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Localised swelling caused by mild fluid buildup or inflammation within the joint.<\/p>\n\t\t\t
Grating or Clicking:<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
A physical sensation or sound (crepitus) when bending or straightening the knee.<\/p>\n\t\t\t
Reduced Mobility:<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Difficulty fully bending or extending the knee, impacting normal daily activities.<\/p>\n\t\t\t
How is it Diagnosed?<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
An accurate assessment is vital for establishing an effective management framework for knee osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n
Diagnosis typically involves:<\/p>\n
Clinical Examination:<\/b> A thorough evaluation of your knee’s range of motion, stability, and areas of tenderness.<\/p>\n
Imaging:<\/b> Standing X-rays are generally performed to assess the degree of joint space narrowing, bone spurs, or structural changes.<\/p>\n
Note: Objective imaging does not always perfectly mirror your daily pain levels, which is why monitoring your subjective functional experience is equally crucial.<\/p>\n\t\t\t
How is it Diagnosed?<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
An accurate assessment is vital for establishing an effective management framework for knee osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n
Diagnosis typically involves:<\/p>\n
Clinical Examination:<\/b> A thorough evaluation of your knee’s range of motion, stability, and areas of tenderness.<\/p>\n
Imaging:<\/b> Standing X-rays are generally performed to assess the degree of joint space narrowing, bone spurs, or structural changes.<\/p>\n
Note: Objective imaging does not always perfectly mirror your daily pain levels, which is why monitoring your subjective functional experience is equally crucial.<\/p>\n\t\t\t
Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment Options<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Treatment for knee osteoarthritis is highly individualised and depends heavily on the severity of your symptoms and how much the condition affects your daily lifestyle.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Conservative & Non-Surgical Management<\/h5>\n\t\t\t
For mild to moderate osteoarthritis, initial treatment focuses on relieving discomfort and preserving joint function without surgery:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Lifestyle Modifications:<\/strong> Adapting daily activities to reduce high-impact stress on the knee joint.<\/li>\n
- Targeted Exercise Programs:<\/strong> Low-impact exercises (such as swimming, cycling, or hydrotherapy) designed by physiotherapists or exercise physiologists to strengthen the supporting muscles around the knee.<\/li>\n
- Weight Management:<\/strong> Reducing excess body weight to significantly alleviate mechanical pressure on the joint.<\/li>\n
- Pain Management:<\/strong> Utilising over-the-counter analgesics, such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), under medical guidance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Advanced Non-Surgical Care<\/h5>\n\t\t\t
When initial conservative steps are no longer fully effective, further options can be explored in consultation with your General Practitioner (GP):<\/p>\n
- \n
- Prescription Medications:<\/strong> Moving toward stronger, medically supervised analgesics to control symptom flare-ups.<\/li>\n
- Corticosteroid Injections:<\/strong> Localised injections providing temporary anti-inflammatory relief to help manage acute pain cycles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Surgical Options<\/h5>\n\t\t\t
If non-operative strategies have been maximised and fail to provide acceptable relief, or if joint damage is severe, a specialist surgical referral is advised to discuss broader options:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Use custom post types here:<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Knee Arthroscopy:<\/strong> Occasionally considered for specific mechanical symptoms, though less common for advanced arthritis. (link)<\/li>\n
- Partial Knee Replacement:<\/strong> Suitable if the osteoarthritis is strictly confined to just one compartment of the knee joint. (link)<\/li>\n
- Total Knee Replacement:<\/strong> An advanced surgical procedure where the damaged joint surfaces are entirely replaced with specialized metal and plastic components to restore alignment and physical function. (link)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n\t\t\t\t ![\"akc-ph__knee-002\"](\"https:\/\/akc.vbi.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/akc-ph__knee-002.avif\" "\\"akc-ph__knee-002\\"")
\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\tWhat are Your Next Steps?<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Understanding exactly where you stand with your knee health is the first step toward effective treatment.<\/p>\n
Track Your Symptoms Online<\/strong><\/p>\n
To help gauge the impact of your knee pain on your daily life, take a few minutes to complete our custom symptom tracker. Developed by Dr Matthew Liptak, this tool categorises your pain and function to help guide your upcoming medical consultations.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart Your Online BORIS\u2122 Assessment Now\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t
Request a Clinical Consultation<\/h3>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
- Knee Arthroscopy:<\/strong> Occasionally considered for specific mechanical symptoms, though less common for advanced arthritis. (link)<\/li>\n
- Corticosteroid Injections:<\/strong> Localised injections providing temporary anti-inflammatory relief to help manage acute pain cycles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
- Targeted Exercise Programs:<\/strong> Low-impact exercises (such as swimming, cycling, or hydrotherapy) designed by physiotherapists or exercise physiologists to strengthen the supporting muscles around the knee.<\/li>\n
- Previous Joint Injuries:<\/strong> Past trauma, such as an ACL tear or meniscus injury, can change joint mechanics and accelerate wear.<\/li>\n