Knee Osteoarthritis

What is knee osteoarthritis?

• Knee osteoarthritis is degeneration of the knee joint caused by cartilage wearing. This can result in bones rubbing against each other and produce pain.

Common causes

• Aging
• Family history
• Gout, Rheumatoid arthritis
• Obesity
• Repetitive injury

Common symptoms

• Pain and swelling of knee joint
• Stiffness of knee
• Joint creaking
• Loss of range of motion
• Muscle weakness and decreased muscle bulk

Diagnosis

• During your consultation, your doctor will
  • Talk with you about your symptoms and medical history
  • Conduct a physical examination
  • Possibly order diagnostic tests
    • MRI: May show changes in soft tissues such as cartilage, tendons and muscles
    • X-ray: May show changes such as osteophytes, decreased joint space and calcium deposits within your joint

Treatment

• Steroid injection
• Hyaluronic acid injection
• Knee arthroscopy
• Bilateral / Total / Partial knee replacement
• Lifestyle modification
  • Minimize aggravating activities such as climbing stairs, squatting and jogging
  • Weight reduction
  • Avoid high impact activities such as tennis
• Medication
  • Non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs

Physiotherapy

• Using walking aids
  
• Electric modality for pain reduction
  
• Exercise
  

  Quadriceps strengthening exercise

  1. Support your knee with a foam roller or a pillow while lying on the bed.
  2. (Optional) Place a sandbag on your ankle.
  3. Raise your lower leg to straighten your knee.
  4. Hold for 5 seconds.
  5. Relax your leg.
     

Stretching exercise

1. Stand on your unaffected leg and hold the handrail to maintain balance.
2. Use your hand to stretch your affected knee.
3. Hold for 30 seconds and relax.
   

Ice pack

1. Put a towel on your affected knee.
2. Appy an ice pack on towel.
3. Wait for 15 minutes.
   

(All information provided is for reference only. Please contact your physiotherapist or physician should you have any enquiry.)

The above information was produced by Physiotherapy Department, Canossa Hospital (Caritas).

Please call 28255392 for physiotherapy appointment

References:

1. Arthritis Research UK Self-help and daily living Keep moving. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.versusarthritis.org/media/3097/keep-moving-poster.pdf
2. Symptoms osteoarthritis. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/symptoms/
3. Treatment osteoarthritis. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/treatment/