How to prevent knee arthritis from getting worse?

Knee arthritis cannot always be completely stopped, but progression and symptoms can often be managed by reducing unnecessary stress on the joint and maintaining strength and mobility.

Steps that may help

• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Strengthen the thigh and hip muscles.
• Stay physically active with low-impact exercise.
• Avoid repeatedly overloading a painful knee.
• Treat previous ligament or meniscus injuries appropriately.
• Use supportive footwear where needed.
• Manage diabetes and other long-term health conditions.
• Avoid ignoring persistent swelling or loss of movement.

Suitable activities can include walking, cycling, swimming, and physiotherapy-based strengthening depending on the severity of arthritis.

Do not wait only for severe pain

Early evaluation can help identify whether pain is coming from arthritis, a meniscus injury, ligament damage, deformity, or another condition.

Treatment may include medicines, physiotherapy, activity modification, weight management, injections in selected cases, or surgery when joint damage becomes advanced.

Dr. Atul Mishra assesses the severity and location of arthritis using symptoms, examination, and imaging before recommending treatment. ASIC Clinic also emphasises that not every patient with arthritis requires total knee replacement; selected patients may still be suitable for non-surgical treatment or partial replacement.