Diagnosing & Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee

If you have symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. They'll be looking for indicators of osteoarthritis, such as:

  • Pain, redness, or swelling in the knee
  • Reduced knee mobility
  • Other signs, such as a grinding or clicking sound when you move your knee, or a feeling of instability
  • A family history of osteoarthritis

They may also ask about other conditions—like rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes—that are risk factors for osteoarthritis. A definitive diagnosis may require tests, such as:

  • Imaging: X-rays and MRIs can show the condition of the cartilage and bones in the knee, helping to identify whether you have knee osteoarthritis and its severity.
  • Fluid tests: Doctors may sample your blood or joint fluid. Blood tests can help them rule out other conditions that may be causing your symptoms. Testing the synovial (joint) fluid can reveal signs indicating knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Treatment

Treatment focuses on easing symptoms, such as managing bone-on-bone knee pain, maintaining range of motion, and treating osteoarthritis knee swelling.

In the early stages of knee osteoarthritis, conservative treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee is more common. Your doctor may recommend:

  • Over-the-counter pain medication and anti-inflammatories, like aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen
  • Steroid injections
  • Hyaluronate injections to help the knee move better
  • Physical therapy
  • Support devices like knee braces or shoe insoles

As your condition progresses and pain from osteoarthritis of the knee has a bigger impact on daily life, your doctor may recommend surgery, including:

  • Knee replacement surgery
  • Osteotomy, a procedure to adjust the shape of your knee joint and relieve pain
  • Grafting cartilage from elsewhere in the body to repair your damaged knee cartilage

Living With Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Since there's no cure for knee osteoarthritis, managing your symptoms and slowing the disease's progression is crucial. Self-care and exercise are important parts of your knee osteoarthritis treatment plan.

Is heat good for osteoarthritis of the knee?

It depends on your timing. For general stiffness and soreness, heat can relieve pain and help the joint loosen up and move better. However, heat can also increase inflammation, so cold is a better choice if your knee osteoarthritis is swollen from overuse.

Is cycling good for knee osteoarthritis?

Yes. Exercise is essential and can help build the muscles that support the knee. Low-impact exercises like cycling are especially beneficial since they're relatively gentle on the knee joint compared to running or jumping activities.

Is walking good for osteoarthritis of the knee?

Like cycling, walking is an excellent choice because it's low-impact and promotes strong legs that can support the knee. Walking can also help with stiffness after sitting for a while.

Can I run with knee osteoarthritis?

It depends. Some high-impact exercises can worsen osteoarthritis. On the other hand, studies show that, in moderation, running can strengthen your legs and slow the progression of your condition. On the other hand, intense training like that of competitive athletes may worsen your condition. Take it easy and evaluate whether your symptoms are better or worse after a run. When in doubt, talk to your doctor about your exercise program.

Are knee braces good for osteoarthritis?

Knee braces can help you manage your symptoms. There are several different types of braces that work differently, such as by compressing your muscles or stabilizing the knee. Talk to your doctor about what kind of brace is right for you based on your condition, medical history, and activities.

Do's and Don'ts for Knee Osteoarthritis

Lifestyle factors play a significant role in managing knee osteoarthritis pain and other symptoms. Good habits to adopt include:

  • Stay active: Exercise is one of the most powerful tools for managing symptoms and slowing the progression of osteoarthritis.
  • Eat right: Eating well promotes good joint health. A diet high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods like vegetables can help.
  • Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight increases the stress on your joints and can make osteoarthritis worse.
  • Manage other conditions: Some conditions, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, are associated with osteoarthritis and may increase your risk or speed up the progression of the disease. Be sure to manage any other conditions with appropriate treatment.

Things to avoid include:

  • High-stress exercise: High-impact activities, contact sports, and other exercise that is hard on your knees can make your condition worse.

FAQs About Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment

Does osteoarthritis cause fluid in the knee?

It can. When there's not enough cartilage to support healthy movement in the knee, the body may produce more fluid to compensate, which can cause knee osteoarthritis swelling. Treatment for this kind of swelling can include home remedies, injections, and physical therapy.

Does knee osteoarthritis hurt all the time?

In the beginning stages, knee osteoarthritis pain is mild, and you may not even notice it. As the disease progresses, the pain will become more intense and more frequent. By Stage 4 knee osteoarthritis, it's common to feel it all (or almost all) the time. In the later stages, surgery may be the best option to relieve severe, frequent pain

What happens if osteoarthritis of the knee is left untreated?

If you don't treat knee osteoarthritis, it can quickly worsen. As your osteoarthritis becomes more severe, you'll experience more pain and more significant physical limitations. You'll also need surgical treatment sooner. In some cases, untreated osteoarthritis can lead to other conditions, such as bowlegs.

How can I stop my knee osteoarthritis from progressing?

Lifestyle factors are your most powerful tool for combatting the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Getting enough exercise, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing inflammation can all slow the progression of the disease, though you can't stop it completely.

What is the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis in the knee?

Osteoarthritis is a specific kind of arthritis that is caused by the wearing away of cartilage on the ends of the bones. Other types of arthritis that can affect the knee include rheumatoid arthritis (your body's immune system attacks the joint), gout (mineral deposits build up in the knee), and reactive arthritis (a response to an infection).

What is the life expectancy of a person with osteoarthritis in the knee?

There's no cure for osteoarthritis and no way to reverse osteoarthritis of the knee, but it isn't deadly and doesn't have life-threatening complications.

Staying active can help keep your knee in good shape and provide the protective benefits of exercise on longevity and mood.

Can you still have osteoarthritis after a knee replacement?

Yes. A knee replacement can significantly improve your quality of life, ability to move freely, and independence, but it doesn't cure the underlying condition.

Schedule an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with one of our bone and joint specialists, call 617-732-5322, or fill out an appointment request form.

Learn more about Brigham and Women's Hospital


For over a century, a leader in patient care, medical education and research, with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery.

About BWH