Osteoarthritis Arthritis of the Knee

Causes

This may be from repetitive micro trauma from any activity involving flexion and extension of the knee, exacerbates by:

• poor alignment of the joint
• Being overweight
• Lots of activity
• Occupations involving lots of squatting down or lifting
• Weak quadriceps/poor quadricep balance
• or a single macro trauma (such as spraining your knee)

Osteoarthritis Arthritis in the Knee Symptoms

• Dull, diffuse pain that is often difficult to pinpoint to a specific location, although may be sharper and more painful during active cycles of inflammation
• Often stiff and sore in the mornings
• Often warms up with activity, but the pain will return once cooled down again

Diagnosis

• Clinical assessment
• Alignment and foot position
• Range of motion and muscle testing
• X-ray and CT and MRI can be used

Treatment For Osteoarthritis Of The Knee

• Strengthening of quadriceps
• Replacing or improving footwear
• Kinetic orthotics to improve knee alignment
• If knee too deteriorated surgery becomes an option, either arthroscopy to clean out
• degeneration, or eventually total knee replacement

Prevention

• Moderate activity load, build up slowly
• Strengthen muscles
• Avoid activity that consistently aggravates
• Manage body weight
• Footwear and orthotics to decrease deterioration

Our podiatrists regularly treat osteoarthritis in the knees. Make an appointment online or contact for more information today at Dan Everson Podiatrists.