• Symptoms: You may experience pain when standing or going up and down stairs. The knee may buckle and give way, lock in place, or become stiff and swollen.
     

• Patients: Most people with osteoarthritis of the knee are over age 55 and/or obese and/or have a family history of osteoarthritis. Younger, highly active people may also develop osteoarthritis if their knee suffered a significant injury.
  

• Diagnosis: See your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. The doctor will consider your comprehensive medical history, perform a physical examination and possibly order tests and/or imaging studies before recommending a course of treatment.
  

Substitute Smooth, Low-Impact Activities

• Moderate physical activity lessens joint pain and improves flexibility and function. Baby boomer patients with osteoarthritis of the knee should continue exercising, but change the forms of their activities.

• Stop doing high-impact activities that twist and turn the joints. This includes running, tennis, racquetball, basketball, baseball, etc.

• Start doing smooth, low-impact activities that are easier on the joints. Recommended activities include stretching, swimming, water aerobics, cycling, walking on a treadmill or outside, playing golf, etc.
  

Extending the Life of the Middle-Aged Knee

Increasingly, baby boomers with osteoarthritis of the knee are asking for total knee replacement surgery. But first, they should try making changes to their lifestyles. Many highly active patients in their 40s and 50s feel inspired by advertising and news reports about the success of knee replacement surgeries. But, sometimes they refuse to change their lifestyles to extend the life of their natural knees.

Doctors use a complex medical process to determine whether total knee replacement is appropriate for a patient. They consider age, activity demands, and other factors. Long-term results of joint replacement are less certain in younger patients.

For middle-aged people, the earlier a doctor diagnoses osteoarthritis of the knee, the more likely conservative treatment may help. If osteoarthritis of the knee is in its early stages, your doctor may recommend low impact activities and other non-operative treatments that can delay or eliminate the need for surgery. In some cases, activity modification may be the only treatment a middle-aged patient needs. If surgery is necessary, modification is still necessary in order to preserve the replacement joint.

Other Conservative Options

Other options that may extend the life of your natural knee include medications, steroid injections, physical therapy, and mechanical aids.

• Medications: The doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce inflammation. Certain dietary supplements such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin may also be helpful. (Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not test dietary supplements. These compounds may cause negative interactions with other medications or excessive bleeding during surgery. Always consult your doctor before taking dietary supplements.)
  Injections: The doctor may inject the knee joint with strong anti-inflammatory medications, called corticosteroids. This can relieve pain and swelling for awhile. Viscosupplementation or injection of hyaluronic acid preparations may also help relieve the symptoms of an arthritic knee.

• Physical therapy: The doctor may give you a balanced fitness program including physical/occupational therapy to improve joint flexibility, increase range of motion, strengthen muscle, bone and cartilage tissues and reduce pain. It may also help to ice the affected joint for short periods, several times a day.

• Mechanical aids: You may need supportive or assistive devices such as an elastic bandage, splint, brace, cane, crutches, or walker.
  

(All information on this page is directly from www.aaos.org)