(08) 7008 7566
(08) 7118 5399
physio@upplus.com.au
177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton SA 5023Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is wear in the joint surfaces, and it is extremely common from the fifties onwards. The most useful thing to know is that the amount of change on a scan correlates poorly with how much pain someone has — plenty of people with significant changes walk comfortably. Exercise is the first-line treatment everywhere in the guidelines, and it works.
What causes it
- Age-related change in the joint surfaces
- A previous knee injury, particularly ACL or meniscal
- Years of heavy kneeling or squatting work
- Higher body weight, which increases load through the joint
- Family history
What you might notice
- Aching that builds through the day or after a long walk
- Morning stiffness that eases within half an hour
- Difficulty with stairs, kneeling and getting out of low chairs
- Swelling after activity
- Grinding or creaking on bending
How we treat it
- Progressive strengthening, the single most effective treatment available
- Range of movement work to keep what is there
- Load and pacing advice so activity does not swing between too much and none
- Manual therapy for pain relief alongside the exercise
- Walking aids or bracing where helpful
- Pre-operative strengthening where a replacement is on the horizon
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment. If your pain followed a significant injury, is getting worse, or comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss, please see your GP.
Strong knees hurt less, whatever the scan says
Joint changes are permanent; pain and function are not. Strengthening reliably improves both, and it is the treatment every guideline puts first.
Or call us on (08) 7008 7566 — we see patients across Seaton, Modbury and Stepney.