Osteoarthritis

In the case of osteoarthritis, the following tips may help:

  • Straighten your knees fully when standing and avoid lying down with your knees up. Also, reduce the amount of time you spend sitting and aim to bend and stretch your legs a few times every half hour and just before you get up.
  • Wear sensible, well fitting, soft-soled shoes with low heels.
  • Your physiotherapist may give you an exercise programme to reduce knee stiffness and strengthen the muscles which control your knees. Try this daily, starting gently at first.
  • Watch our videos below (click on You Tube symbol to watch in full screen) for strengthening and stretching exercises for knee pain

Osteoarthritis can be managed in several ways.

  • Heat and ice: Heat can be soothing and help decrease pain, ice can reduce swelling and pain. Download our heat and ice information leaflet
  • Painkillers and/or anti-inflammatory tablets/gels but discuss with your GP or Pharmacist before taking

For further guidance on how to make the best decisions on managing your knee osteoarthritis pain, please click here for an excellent website tool.

Strengthening exercises for knee and hip pain

Stretching exercises for knee and hip pain

Osteoarthritis of the knee: Patient Information