Knee osteoarthritis: what to do?

Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the most common joint disorders worldwide. This degenerative disease mainly affects the cartilage, causing pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. Although often associated with aging, it can also affect younger people.

What causes osteoarthritis of the knee?

Contrary to popular belief, osteoarthritis is not simply caused by age. Other factors may be responsible, such as

• previous injuries (e.g. torn cruciate ligament)
• excess weight
• a sedentary lifestyle
• genetic predisposition

These factors increase inflammation in the body, accelerating cartilage degradation and creating mechanical stress on the joint.

8 key facts about knee osteoarthritis

So here are the most important facts to keep in mind:

1. It’s not just wear and tear.
   Osteoarthritis is, in fact, a complex process involving biological, mechanical and inflammatory factors. (Hunter et al., 2014)
2. Imagery doesn’t tell the whole story.
   Pain doesn’t always correspond to what you see on an X-ray (Bedson & Croft, 2008).
3. Exercise is an essential treatment.
   Physical activity reduces pain and improves function. (Fransen et al., 2015)
4. Weight loss really helps.
   It decreases inflammation and thus reduces pressure on the knee. (Messier et al., 2018)
5. Passive treatments are limited.
   Injections or manual therapies can help temporarily, but exercise remains the foundation. (Bannuru et al., 2019)
6. Pain ≠ aggravation.
   For example, being in pain doesn’t mean osteoarthritis is progressing (Dieppe & Lohmander, 2005).
7. Surgery is not the only option.
   Conservative approaches do, in fact, give good results. (Skou et al., 2015)
8. Education is essential.
   A better understanding of the condition enables it to be managed more effectively. (Kolasinski et al., 2020)

What treatments are recommended?

The ideal treatment obviously combines several approaches. Therapeutic exercise is often the mainstay of treatment. It should be tailored to your specific condition.

A chiropractor or physiotherapist can guide you. These professionals can provide you with tailored exercises and concrete advice. In addition, improving your lifestyle habits, such as better weight management, reinforces the positive effects.

In some cases, medication or infiltration may be necessary. However, it’s best to try all conservative options before considering surgery.

In conclusion

Osteoarthritis of the knee can be difficult to live with, but it’s not inevitable. With the right tools, you can regain control. Exercise, education and the right support make all the difference.

So, for more information, visit the Arthritis Society of Canada website. You’ll find reliable, up-to-date resources.

Need personalized support?

At ABC Clinique Santé, we offer customized programs to help you live better with osteoarthritis of the knee. Our professionals will support you with targeted exercises, simple advice and personalized follow-up.
Contact us today to start your journey towards a more active, less painful life!

Visit the clinic nearest you:

• Chiropractic – Chelsea Gatineau (secteur Hull)
• Chiropractic – Vaudreuil-Dorion
• Chiropractic – Mirabel
• Chiropractic – Valleyfield
• Chiropractic – Québec (Duberger-Les-Saules)
• Chiropractic – BouchervilleChiropractic – Trois-Rivières

Sources

• Hunter, D. J., et al. (2014). Osteoarthritis. The Lancet, 384(9952), 1929-1940. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60802-3
• Bedson, J., & Croft, P. R. (2008). The discordance between clinical and radiographic knee osteoarthritis: a systematic search and summary of the literature. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 16(7), 795-801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2008.05.017
• Fransen, M., et al. (2015). Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee: a Cochrane systematic review. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004376.pub3
• Messier, S. P., et al. (2018). Effects of diet and exercise on knee pain in overweight and obese adults with knee osteoarthritis: The IDEA randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 320(20), 2028-2038. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.14370
• Bannuru, R. R., et al. (2019). OARSI guidelines for the non-surgical management of knee, hip, and polyarticular osteoarthritis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 171(1), 57-68. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0859
• Dieppe, P. A., & Lohmander, L. S. (2005). Pathogenesis and management of pain in osteoarthritis. BMJ, 331(7524), 85-87. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7524.85
• Skou, S. T., et al. (2015). A randomized, controlled trial of total knee replacement. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(17), 1597-1606. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1505467
• Kolasinski, S. L., et al. (2020). 2020 American College of Rheumatology guideline for the management of osteoarthritis. https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/Osteoarthritis-Guideline-2020.pdf
• E3 Rehab. (2023). Knee Osteoarthritis: Complete Guide. https://e3rehab.com/knee-osteoarthritis/