Knee arthritis, or osteoarthritis, is a common type of arthritis that occurs when the cartilage of the joints in the knees progressively wears and tears away. It is also called the degenerative joint disease.

When an individual has knee arthritis, the cartilage that protects the joints wears away, leaving the bare bone in the joint exposed. Knee arthritis is usually most common in patients that are 50 years of age and above. It is also common in patients that are overweight, in which weight loss is advised to reduce the symptoms that they experience with osteoarthritis.

It has also been proven that knee arthritis is also genetic and runs in the family. Other causes of osteoarthritis include bone fractures, knee trauma, and ligament damage.

As with any other medical condition, the symptoms of knee arthritis tend to worsen as the condition itself worsens. Its symptoms however tend to fluctuate and do not worsen at a steady manner. The most common symptoms include:

Knee stiffness
Pain and discomfort
Limited range in movement
Swelling and soreness
Deformity of the joints

If you have are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to get a physical examination as well as X-rays from your doctor. These tests will help to evaluate the progression of your arthritis.

There are several treatments for osteoarthritis, from simple exercise to possible surgery. It all depends on the severity of the case of the patient. Treatment must be discussed appropriately with your doctor to determine what type of treatment must be used to help relieve osteoarthritis.

Treatments include the following:

Weight Loss - this is the most common treatment prescribed by doctors and is also the most important. This helps greatly because the less weight that is put on the joint, the less pain the individual will feel.

Use of Walking Aids - Patients are usually advised to use a cane or crutches so that less pressure will be put on the damaged joint.

Limiting Activities - When a patient is recovering from arthritis, it is best to limit some activities that contribute to pressure on the knee. Oftentimes, exercise in the water is advised to help lessen the strain on the knee, but still allow the patient to be able to engage in activities.

Physical Therapy - This is especially helpful so that the muscles around the knee joint will be stronger. Also, physical therapy prevents atrophy of the muscles.

Cortisone Injection - This helps in reducing the pain as well as the inflammation that may be present in the damaged joint.

Anti-Inflammatory Medicines - These prescription medications help to alleviate the pain and decrease the inflammation in the joints.

Partial Knee Replacement - This surgical procedure involves replacing one part of the knee and is advised for those only with limited knee arthritis.

Total Knee Replacement - This surgical procedure involves having the whole knee cartilage removed and replaced with an implant that is made of metal and plastic.