Osteoarthritis of the Knee
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder, which results in pain and stiffness in joints. As we age, changes occur in the joints (a bit like getting grey hairs, or wrinkles and lines on our skin). Sometimes these changes, along with other factors can mean that your joint gets irritated and painful or stiff.
Common risk factors for knee osteoarthritis:
- age
- genetic factors
- being female
- being overweight
- previous injury or repeated trauma
- previous joint surgery
Symptoms
- Pain or aching with certain activities
- Swelling
- Some people may experience giving way
- Stiffness at different points in the day, particularly after being still for a while
- Stiffness eased with activity
- Pain can be aggravated when turning over or having your knees pressed together in bed
- Changes in the weather may make a difference in some people
Self management
You can make a major difference to your osteoarthritis of the knee in the following ways:
Lose weight
Many people with osteoarthritis of the knee are overweight. Studies have shown that people who loose weight have fewer knee problems in the future than those who do not. Being overweight is also bad for your general health and increases the risk of heart disease, strokes and diabetes. So you should eat a balanced, healthy diet and keep your weight as close as possible to the ideal for your height and age.
Improve your general fitness
Research has shown that improving your aerobic fitness can help knee osteoarthritis. This is the sort of exercise that gets you out of breath, such as cycling, swimming or brisk walking.
Regular exercise of the muscles which support your knee
It is common for muscles to become weaker around the knee which may lead to giving way. To overcome this it is essential to strengthen the muscles in the thigh, bottom and calf regularly. It has been proved that strengthening these muscles not only improves your mobility but also reduces pain. More information on osteoarthritis of the knee.
- Wear sensible supportive footwear that offers some cushioning to decrease the impact on your joints
- Ensure you have adequate pain control
Other treatments
If the exercises and lifestyle changes do not help and the symptoms are still very severe and impacting your walking, sleep and quality of life, a steroid injection or joint replacement may be considered and you would be individually assessed for these types of treatments by a specialist clinician.
