What is knee arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the gradual breakdown of the smooth articular cartilage that caps the ends of the bones in your knee. As this cushion thins, the bones move less freely, and over time the joint becomes stiff and painful.
It is the most common form of arthritis and tends to progress slowly over years. Importantly, the severity seen on an X-ray does not always match how a patient feels — which is why treatment is guided by symptoms and function, not images alone.
Signs and symptoms
- checkPain that worsens with activity and eases with rest — though advanced cases ache at rest too.
- checkStiffness especially in the morning or after sitting, easing as you move.
- checkSwelling and a feeling of warmth in the joint.
- checkGrinding or clicking (crepitus) as the roughened surfaces move.
- checkReduced range of motion and difficulty with stairs, kneeling or long walks.
Causes & risk factors
- Age — cartilage naturally becomes less resilient over time.
- Previous injury, such as an old ACL or meniscus tear.
- Excess body weight, which multiplies the load through the knee.
- Genetics and family history.
- Repetitive high-impact loading over many years.
How it is diagnosed
Diagnosis combines your history, an examination of movement and alignment, and standing (weight-bearing) X-rays that show joint-space narrowing. MRI is occasionally used to assess cartilage and rule out other causes of pain.
Treatment options
Treatment follows a ladder — always starting with the least invasive measures, which control symptoms effectively for many years in most patients.
Activity & weight
Targeted exercise, muscle strengthening and weight management are the most powerful, best-evidenced treatments.
Medication
Anti-inflammatory medication and, in selected cases, injections to control flare-ups.
Physiotherapy & aids
Bracing, footwear and physiotherapy to offload the joint and improve mechanics.
Joint replacement
When conservative care no longer controls pain, partial or total knee replacement reliably restores comfort and mobility.
Surgery is the last step on the ladder, not the first. For most patients, years of good function come from movement, strength and weight — not the operating theatre.
Living well with arthritis
Knee arthritis is managed rather than cured, and a clear plan makes a real difference. Staying active — within comfortable limits — keeps the surrounding muscles strong and the joint mobile. When the time for surgery does come, modern joint replacement offers excellent, durable results.