Arthritis In Knee Treatment

Written By: Chloe Wilson, BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy
Reviewed by: KPE Medical Review Board

There are a whole range of arthritis in knee treatment, but the one most consistently found to make a difference is exercises. 

Whilst exercises won't cure the knee arthritis, they can be extremely effective in reducing pain and increasing function, making a huge difference to daily life.  They can even help delay the need for surgery.

If the knee is strong and flexible, less weight goes through the arthritic knee and there is less pain and wear through the joint.

You get quadruple benefit with this arthritis knee exercise - it strengthens the quads, hamstrings and glutes and increases knee mobility/flexibility

• Stand with your back against the wall, feet apart and about 30cms from the wall, toes pointing forwards
  
  
• Slowly slide down the wall a few inches bending your knees. Hold for 3-5 seconds and return to starting position
  
  
• Repeat 10-25 times, 2x daily
  
  
• Progress by 1. Increasing the depth of the dip
  2. Holding the bent knee position for longer (aiming for 10secs)

Top Tip: As you squat, don’t let your knees come too far in or out - Keep your knee in line with your second toe so you can always see your big toe past the inside of your knee

This arthritis knee exercise is a very functional way of strengthening all the knee muscles and practising stairs, which people with knee arthritis often struggle with.

• Stand facing the bottom of the stairs or a single step. Hold onto the wall/rail for support if required
  
  
• Step up onto the first stair leading with the leg you want to strengthen. Without turning round, step both feet back down leading with the good leg
  
  
• Repeat 10-30 times, 2x daily
  
  
• You can challenge yourself further by 1. Not holding onto anything
  2. Keeping the leg to be worked up on the step and just moving the other leg up and down

Top Tip: If you don’t have any steps at home, be creative e.g. phone directory

Step downs are a great way to strengthen the quads, improve balance and improve knee stability, all key parts of arthritis in knee treatment.

• Stand sideways on top of a step. Hold the wall/rail for support
  
  
• Slowly lower your good leg down to the floor and then bring it back up (keeping your other foot up on the step throughout)
  
  
• Repeat 5-20x, twice daily

Top Tips: 1. You are aiming to do this in a slow, controlled fashion
2. Don’t let the knee twist inwards, keep it in line with your second toe so you can always see your big toe

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If you haven't already seen them, I suggest you have a look at the strengthening exercises and movement and balance exercise pages for more really helpful arthritis in knee treatment ideas.

This programme gives you a mix of strengthening, movement and balance exercises, with the option to progress onto the advanced exercises when you feel ready.  I have colour co-ordinated each exercise so you know what type of arthritis in knee treatment exercise it is e.g. strengthening exercises are colour coded in blue

Please tailor this to suit you – some exercises may be too easy or too difficult for you and therefore not appropriate. Find what works for you. The people who have the most success are those who stick with their exercise programmes. For information see the Getting The Best Results from arthritis in knee treatment section.