Home > Condition & Treatment Map > Knee Conditions & Treatments > Non Operative Treatment of Knee Arthritis

As with other arthritic conditions, treatment of arthritis of the knee is nonsurgical. Dr Slattery or Dr Stevens may recommend a range of treatment options as detailed below. This information is general in nature only, and should be tailored to your individual circumstances.

Lifestyle modifications

Some changes in your daily life can protect your knee joint and slow the progress of arthritis.

Minimize activities that aggravate your knee pain, such as climbing stairs, doing squats, lunges or other high intensity activity.
Switching from high impact activities (like jogging or tennis) to lower impact activities (like swimming or cycling) will put less stress on your knee.
Losing weight can reduce stress on the knee joint, resulting in less pain and increased function. The way knee biomechanics are structured – 1 kg of weight loss equals 3-5kg of less pressure on your knee during bending and stair climbing – just losing 5kg can make a great difference to your knee arthritis (if you are overweight). We acknowledge that it can be difficult to lose weight and that this can be a difficult circuit to break

Physiotherapy

Specific exercises can help increase range of motion and flexibility, as well as help strengthen the muscles in your leg. Specific to knee arthritis is the GLAD program, which is run under the supervision of a physiotherapist. This has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the symptoms of arthrtis.

Assistive Devices

Using devices such as a cane, wearing shock-absorbing shoes or inserts, or wearing a brace or knee sleeve can be helpful. A brace assists with stability and function, and may be especially helpful if the arthritis is centred on one side of the knee. There are two types of braces that are often used for knee arthritis: An "unloader" brace shifts weight away from the affected portion of the knee.

Medications

Several types of drugs are useful in treating arthritis of the knee. Because people respond differently to medications, your surgeon will work closely with you to determine the medications and dosages that are safe and effective for you.

Panadol osteo 665mg 2 Tablets 3 times a day
Anti-inflammatories: Neurofen, Brufen, Naproxen, Celebrex – these should be taken as per the prescription, these are typically short-mid term medications and may require the use of another medication as they can cause indigestion and other problems.

Injections

Injections can be a useful treatment for early knee arthritis.

Short acting agents typically involve steroids (cortisone)– these do not cure the arthritis, but they reduce the inflammation in the knee and can assist with reducing swelling and pain.

Other Remedies

Applying heat or ice, using pain-relieving ointments or creams, or wearing elastic bandages to provide support to the knee may provide some relief from pain.

Alternative Therapies

Many alternative forms of therapy are unproven, but may be helpful to try, provided you find a qualified practitioner and keep your doctor informed of your decision.

Non Operative Treatment of Knee Arthritis