Knee arthritis is a slowly developing condition that results from the breakdown of cartilage within the knee joint. This leads to knee pain, swelling, and stiffness that can make standing, walking, and going up and down stairs very difficult.
Knee Arthritis
The knee is one of the most common joints to develop arthritis. When cartilage in the knee joint wears away, it leads to knee pain and stiffness. Because the knee supports much of the body’s weight, symptoms of knee arthritis get worse when standing and putting pressure on the knees.
Avoiding repeated and high-impact activities helps reduce stress at the knee joint. Physical therapy and pain-relieving methods can also help manage symptoms. In ongoing cases of knee arthritis where pain interferes with daily life, surgery may be considered.
When nonsurgical management does not provide effective pain relief for knee arthritis, a knee replacement is the recommended surgical option. This surgery replaces the ends of the bones of the knee joint with metal and plastic implants, which allows the knee joint to move better with less pain. Part or all of the knee joint can be replaced, depending on the location of the arthritis and other factors.
Want to dive deeper? Take a look at some of the bonus educational videos to sharpen your understanding of knee arthritis.
