Knee Osteoarthritis in Mona Vale
Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition that can cause pain, stiffness and reduced tolerance for walking, stairs and exercise. At Helix Recovery, we focus on improving strength, movement and your ability to stay active rather than simply treating what appears on a scan.
What is Knee Osteoarthritis ?
Knee osteoarthritis involves changes to the cartilage, bone and other tissues within the knee joint. These changes become increasingly common with age but do not always cause pain or limit activity.
The severity of osteoarthritis seen on an X-ray or MRI does not necessarily match the severity of someone's symptoms. Many people with osteoarthritis can remain active and improve their pain and function with appropriate exercise and management.
Common Symptoms
Knee pain or aching
Stiffness after sitting or resting
Reduced knee movement
Pain with walking or prolonged standing
Difficulty with stairs
Pain with squatting or getting up from a chair
Swelling around the knee
Reduced tolerance for exercise or everyday activities
How We Assess Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee pain in someone with osteoarthritis is not always explained entirely by the changes seen on imaging. Strength, movement, activity levels and other structures around the knee can also influence symptoms.
Assessment may include knee movement, strength testing, squatting, stepping and other functional movements, as well as assessment of the hip and surrounding lower limb where appropriate.
The aim is to understand how your knee is currently functioning and identify the strength, movement and loading factors that can be addressed through treatment and rehabilitation.
How We Treat Knee Osteoarthritis
Treatment depends on how long symptoms have been present, their severity and the activities you want to return to.
Treatment may include:
Osteopathic manual therapy
Shockwave therapy
Progressive exercise rehabilitation
Quadriceps and lower-limb strengthening
Activity and load modification
Gradual return to walking, gym, exercise or sport
Shockwave Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis
Shockwave therapy may be considered as an adjunct for some people with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, particularly when pain is limiting activity or progression with rehabilitation.
Current evidence suggests shockwave therapy may help reduce pain and improve function in some people with knee osteoarthritis. It does not reverse the structural changes associated with osteoarthritis and is best used alongside progressive strengthening and exercise rehabilitation.
Common Questions
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No. Osteoarthritis involves structural changes within the knee, but describing the joint as simply “worn out” can be misleading. The amount of change seen on imaging does not always correlate closely with pain or function.
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Yes. Exercise and progressive strengthening are among the most important treatments for knee osteoarthritis and can help improve pain, strength and everyday function.
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For many people, yes. Squatting does not automatically damage an arthritic knee. The depth, resistance and amount of exercise can be adjusted initially and gradually progressed according to your symptoms and capacity.
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Not necessarily. Many people manage knee osteoarthritis without surgery. Joint replacement may be considered when symptoms and functional limitations become severe and appropriate conservative management is no longer providing adequate relief.
Is Knee Arthritis Making It Harder to Stay Active?
If knee pain or stiffness is limiting your walking, exercise or everyday activities, we can assess your current function and develop a treatment and rehabilitation plan to help you stay active.