Knee Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

15/04/2025

Knee arthritis is one of the most common musculoskeletal diseases, especially in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Not only does it cause pain, but knee arthritis also severely impacts mobility and daily quality of life. However, many people remain subjective, failing to seek timely treatment or applying incorrect methods, leading to unpredictable complications. Understanding the correct causes, symptoms, and treatment methods for knee arthritis is crucial for comprehensive joint health protection.

1. What is Knee Arthritis?

Knee arthritis is the condition in which the cartilage in your knee is damaged. These cartilage pieces may become rough, frayed, or worn down. Consequently, the friction force when bones rub against one another increases, reducing the elasticity of the joint cartilage and causing pain in the knee area. If untreated early, knee arthritis can worsen into severe degeneration. Particularly, incorrect treatment can lead to serious complications.

Knee arthritis
Knee arthritis is the condition in which the cartilage in your knee is damaged.

2. Symptoms of Knee Arthritis

Common symptoms of knee arthritis include: pain, swelling and redness around the joint area, stiffness in the knee, and difficulty moving the knee.

2.1. Pain

The pain is often dull, but can occur suddenly in some cases. Pain often becomes more pronounced in the morning after waking up. In severe cases, pain can occur at any time and disrupt sleep.

2.2. Swelling and redness around the joint area

Due to excess fluid accumulation, the joint will swell. At this point, you can feel warmth around the swollen joint area.

2.3. Stiffness in the knee

Stiffness can restrict your movement. You may notice this condition after resting for a long time or after waking up in the morning. When experiencing stiffness, it’s advisable to gently massage the area to restore normal movement.

2.4. Difficulty moving the knee

As the protective cartilage wears down, you may feel pain during movement. The range of motion in the knee will be reduced, hindering simple daily activities like standing up, sitting down, or bending and stretching the knee.

As the protective cartilage wears down, you may feel pain during movement.

3. Causes of Knee Arthritis

There are five main causes of knee arthritis: injury, rheumatoid arthritis, knee osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and bursitis.

3.1. Injury

Jobs that require continuous lifting or squatting can put significant pressure on the knee. Therefore, individuals performing these tasks regularly have a higher risk of knee pain. Additionally, athletes in sports like track, soccer, and tennis are also prone to injuries. Appropriate care measures are necessary to prevent recurrence.

3.2. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis leads to joint stiffness and pain. If not treated promptly, it can result in joint adhesion and deformity.

3.3. Knee Osteoarthritis

This condition is often due to natural aging or factors such as overexertion, accidents, and poor nutrition. Pain typically occurs on the inside and front of the knee and worsens with movement.

3.4. Osteoporosis

As age increases, joint health declines. This raises the risk of osteoporosis, a condition that is hard to avoid in the elderly due to reduced cartilage and lubricating fluid production.

As age increases, joint health declines.

3.5. Bursitis

Bursitis helps tendons and ligaments function smoothly. Knee injury can cause inflammation in this area, resulting in knee pain and stiffness.

4. Treatment Methods for Knee Arthritis

– Maintain a reasonable weight: This helps reduce pain associated with arthritis.
– Regular exercise: Frequent movement and exercise strengthen the muscles around the knee, stabilizing the joint and helping reduce pain.
– Use anti-inflammatory medications combined with pain relievers: If pain frequently occurs and disrupts daily activities, consult a doctor about using these medications.
– Dietary adjustments: When suffering from knee arthritis, increase your intake of foods such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna), green vegetables, soy products, cereals, and fruits.
– Knee massage: A way to massage the knee is as follows: Position the lower leg at a right angle to the thigh. Use your fingers to stroke the front of the knee, then towards the back. Repeat on each side 20 times for effectiveness.

Frequent movement and exercise strengthen the muscles around the knee, stabilizing the joint and helping reduce pain.

If the above measures do not improve the condition, consider other options such as:
– Physical therapy: This is recommended for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. In addition to physical therapy, doctors often prescribe adjunct medications to enhance treatment efficacy.
– Surgery: When the condition worsens and does not respond to non-invasive treatments, surgery may be necessary. Surgical options include knee joint replacement, bone removal, and arthroscopic procedures.

Knee arthritis, while not life-threatening, can severely diminish quality of life if not adequately addressed. Early detection, timely treatment, alongside a proper lifestyle and nutrition plan are key to effectively managing this condition. Take proactive steps to care for your joint health today to maintain flexibility and mobility in your legs throughout your life journey.

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