Knee Arthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a disease of the knee joint in which the cartilage breaks down and wears away. Cartilage covers the ends of the bones in the knee joint. It absorbs shock and allows bones to glide smoothly over one another. When cartilage wears away, the bones rub together resulting in pain, swelling, and loss of movement.
Common Causes
· Obesity
· Aging
· Previous history of knee injury
· Stress on joints from overuse with certain occupations and sports
· Family history of osteoarthritis
Signs and Symptoms
· Joint stiffness for roughly 30 minutes in the morning and after prolonged sitting.
· Stiffness that calms with movement.
· Swelling and tenderness around the knee joint.
· A crunching/grinding/clicking feeling in the knee joint.
· Decreased flexibility of the knee.
· Pain with standing/walking.
Treatment
Ice: For joint swelling/burning ice the knee 3-4 times/day for 20 minutes. A bag of frozen peas works well.
Heat: For joint stiffness apply heat to the knee 3-4 times/day for 20 minutes using a hot water bottle or electric heating pad.
Knee Brace: You can purchase a supportive knee brace from the drugstore or from your local physiotherapy clinic.
Weight Loss: Maintaining a healthy weight through healthy eating and regular physical activity can greatly reduce the stress on your knees.
Pace Yourself: You’ll have good days and bad days. Avoid trying to get all your chores/tasks done on your good days as you’ll likely flare up your knee.
Swimming: Whether you’re swimming laps or just wading around in the shallow end, being in the water reduces joint strain and helps loosen up the knee joint.
Walking: Walking daily can help increase knee strength and flexibility. Avoid pushing through pain. Start slow (i.e. 5 minutes on day one) and gradually increase only if pain free. Walking on the treadmill at first is ideal as you can stop and rest as needed.
Walking aids: If you are limping, a cane or walker can help reduce strain on your knees. If you are walking outdoors regularly ask your physiotherapist about info on Nordic walking poles.
· Obesity
· Aging
· Previous history of knee injury
· Stress on joints from overuse with certain occupations and sports
· Family history of osteoarthritis
Signs and Symptoms
· Joint stiffness for roughly 30 minutes in the morning and after prolonged sitting.
· Stiffness that calms with movement.
· Swelling and tenderness around the knee joint.
· A crunching/grinding/clicking feeling in the knee joint.
· Decreased flexibility of the knee.
· Pain with standing/walking.
Treatment
Ice: For joint swelling/burning ice the knee 3-4 times/day for 20 minutes. A bag of frozen peas works well.
Heat: For joint stiffness apply heat to the knee 3-4 times/day for 20 minutes using a hot water bottle or electric heating pad.
Knee Brace: You can purchase a supportive knee brace from the drugstore or from your local physiotherapy clinic.
Weight Loss: Maintaining a healthy weight through healthy eating and regular physical activity can greatly reduce the stress on your knees.
Pace Yourself: You’ll have good days and bad days. Avoid trying to get all your chores/tasks done on your good days as you’ll likely flare up your knee.
Swimming: Whether you’re swimming laps or just wading around in the shallow end, being in the water reduces joint strain and helps loosen up the knee joint.
Walking: Walking daily can help increase knee strength and flexibility. Avoid pushing through pain. Start slow (i.e. 5 minutes on day one) and gradually increase only if pain free. Walking on the treadmill at first is ideal as you can stop and rest as needed.
Walking aids: If you are limping, a cane or walker can help reduce strain on your knees. If you are walking outdoors regularly ask your physiotherapist about info on Nordic walking poles.
Stretches: Keep your knee as flexible as possible by doing these stretches daily. Hold each position for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times.
TREATMENT FOR ADVANCED KNEE ARTHRITIS
If the arthritis in your knee is advancing to the point that your quality of life is significantly affected (i.e. your pain levels are high and constant, you can’t sleep, you can only walk very short distances, you have great difficulty doing stairs, etc.) your doctor may refer you to a bone specialist; orthopedic surgeon. Sometimes knee arthritis is treated surgically through a minor surgery called an arthroscopy. In more serious cases the surgeon may discuss a total knee replacement.