Signs & Symptoms

The main symptoms commonly associated with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee are:
  • Knee pain that worsens when you are active and improves when you rest
  • Stiffness, with reduced ability to move the knee
  • Swelling around the knee
  • Cracking (crepitus) when moving the knee

Other possible symptoms of OA of the knee include:

  • Buckling or instability of the knee
  • Bony enlargement of the knee
  • Deformity of the knee

If you have any of these symptoms or signs, see your doctor and talk with him or her about your symptoms — where the pain is, how long you’ve had it, and what types of things make it better or worse. Your doctor will perform tests to determine the cause of your knee pain or may refer you to a specialist for further evaluation. If the cause of your pain is OA of the knee, there are numerous treatment options available.

Causes

Although doctors are not completely certain what causes OA of the knee, some possible contributors are:

  • Advancing age
  • Wear and tear on the knee over many years
  • Previous injury
  • Excessive weight
  • Genetics: It may "run in the family"
  • Gender: Women are more likely than men to have OA of the knee

spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer

Find us on Facebook