Osteoarthritis of the Knee
This fact sheet has been written for people with
knee pain, due to osteoarthritis (OA). It provides
general information about knee pain and what
can be done to help. It also tells you where to find
further information.
Synovial Joint of the Knee
This sheet is not meant for people with knee pain
from osteoporosis or other causes.
What is OA of the knee?
OA is the most common form of arthritis in the
knee, and usually develops over time as the
cartilage gradually wears away.
In the knee joint, the ends of the bones where
the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia)
meet are covered with ‘articular cartilage’.
Articular cartilage is a slick substance that
helps the joint move freely, but in OA the
articular cartilage may be worn away, causing
the bones to rub together. Where there was
once smooth articular cartilage, there is now
frayed and rough cartilage and increased
stress on bone.
What are the symptoms?
OA in the knee can be especially painful because of the joint’s weight-bearing role in standing, walking and
exercising.
In addition to pain, which may develop slowly or quickly, the joint may swell or stiffen, making it difficult to bend
or straighten the knee. There may be a feeling of weakness in the knee, resulting in a buckling sensation.
Sometimes the knee joint may “lock” and not bend properly.
Pain and swelling are often worse in the morning or after a period of inactivity. Pain may also increase after
activities such as walking, stair climbing, or kneeling.
What causes it?
In the case of OA in the knee, obesity and/or a history of repeated knee trauma are common causes.
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Advanced OA in the knee leads to misalignment of the leg joints. This is then described as being ‘knock-kneed’
or ‘bow-legged’.
Should I see a doctor?
You should talk to your doctor or other health professional if your pain or other symptoms bother you. They will
ask you about your symptoms and examine you. They may check for any serious medical problems that could
be causing your pain, but these are rare. You should see your doctor if your pain does not settle down after a
few weeks, or starts getting worse.
What can I do?
1. Talk to your healthcare
team. It is common to worry
about the cause of your pain and
how it will affect you. Talking to
your doctor or another health
professional about your worries
can be helpful. You will usually
find there is no serious cause
and there are ways you can deal
with it.
2. Learn about knee pain and
play an active role in your
treatment. Not all information
you read or hear about is
trustworthy so always talk
to your doctor or healthcare
team about treatments you are thinking about trying. Reliable sources of further information are also listed
in the section below. Self-management courses aim to help you develop skills to be actively involved in your
healthcare. Contact your local Arthritis Australia office for details of these courses.
3. Learn ways to manage pain. Talk to your healthcare team about ways to relieve your pain. Some people
have found massage and acupuncture helpful with knee pain, however this has not been proven by research.
There are also medicines that can help with knee pain. It’s best to start with simple analgesics and measure
their effect before trying others.
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Paracetamol is a simple pain reliever that can relieve mild to moderate pain from OA.
Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) may relieve symptoms of OA. Always talk to your doctor or
pharmacist before take these medicines as they are not suitable for all people.
Stronger pain medicine, such as codeine or tramadol, may be useful if simple pain relievers are not
effective and anti-inflammatory medicines cannot be used.
A corticosteroid injection into the knee joint may relieve pain.
Hyaluronan injections may reduce pain in knee OA but can be expensive and do not work for all
people. Injecting hyaluronan into the joint can help lubricate and protect the cartilage.
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Creams containing anti-inflammatory medicines have been shown to reduce pain in knee OA. Creams
containing capsaicin (an ingredient in cayenne and chilli peppers) may also help relieve pain in knee
OA.
Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medicines, as even natural and over-the-counter
medicines can have side effects. See the following for more information:
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Complementary medicines
Complementary treatments
Simple pain relief medicines
NSAIDs treatment
Medicines & arthritis fact sheet
Dealing with pain fact sheet
4. Stay active. Your body is designed for movement and exercise is one of the most important treatments for
OA of the knee.
It helps to reduce pain and maintain your general health. To protect your sore joints, try low-impact activities,
where there is less weight going through your knees. Examples of low-impact activities include cycling and
walking.
You could also try:
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Water exercise: The buoyancy of the water takes pressure off your knees and you may find you
can move more freely than you can on land. You could swim, do a hydrotherapy session with a
physiotherapist or join a local warm water exercise class. See the Water exercise sheet for more
information.
Strengthening exercises: Physiotherapy exercises to strengthen the muscles around your knee can
also help reduce pain from OA.
Tai chi: Studies show that tai chi can help reduce pain and stiffness for people with OA.
See a physiotherapist or other health
professional for advice about exercises
to keep your knee moving. See the
Working with your healthcare team
information sheet for more information
about seeing a physiotherapist.
5. Weight loss: Being overweight can
lead to more pain and damage to hips
and knees affected by OA. Even modest
weight loss (eg. five percent reduction
in body weight) can noticeably reduce
symptoms of knee OA. You may find it
useful to see a dietitian for advice about
healthy eating and weight loss.
6. Aids or supports: Some people may
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find using a walking aid helps reduce pain. Always use the walking stick on the opposite side to your sore joint.
Your physiotherapist may also suggest the following treatments to reduce pain from knee OA:
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taping the kneecap (patella)
knee braces
orthoses (small wedges placed in your shoe to improve the alignment (position) of your knee when
standing and walking). See a physiotherapist for advice about any of these aids or supports.
7. Acknowledge your feelings and seek support. It is natural to feel scared, frustrated, sad and sometimes
angry when you have pain. Be aware of these feelings and get help if necessary. You can learn skills to
recognise and calm anxiety or strong emotions if you find they start to affect your daily life. See the Awareness
of thoughts & emotions treatment.
There are many other treatments for knee pain that have not been well-proven. Some unproven treatments
may still be useful, however further research is needed.
These treatments include:
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herbal medicines
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
low level laser therapy
heat and cold (eg. hot water bottles, heat packs, ice packs).
Your healthcare team can give you more advice and information about whether any of these or other
treatments might be useful for you.
Other Resources
State/Territory Arthritis Offices
Your local Arthritis Office can provide further information to assist you and will have a range of education and
support activities. Click here to find your local office.
Independent Living Centres (ILCs)
These centres provide information about products and services to help people remain independent and
improve their quality of life. They are located in each capital city. See www.ilcaustralia.org.au or call the
National ILC Infoline on 1300 885 886 to find your closest centre and more information. (In Queensland, the
Independent Living Centre is called LifeTec).
Page created: 18 March 2013
Last modified: 19 June 2015
Content last reviewed: 18 March 2013
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