Expert advice on how to manage and treat knee osteoarthritis

Orthopedic specialists

Listen to what these orthopedic specialists have to say about managing osteoarthritis of the knee

How common is osteoarthritis of the knee and what are the risk factors?

What types of exercise are appropriate for osteoarthritis of the knee?

How important is exercise in managing osteoarthritis of the knee?

Who typically suffers from osteoarthritis?

Dr. Bhandari

MD, PhD, FRCSC
Professor and University Scholar
Associate Chair—Research, Department of Surgery
Academic Division Head, Orthopedic Surgery
Canada Research Chair in Evidence-Based Orthopedics
McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario

What is viscosupplementation and how can it help osteoarthritis knee pain?

Dr. Bhandari

MD, PhD, FRCSC
Professor and University Scholar
Associate Chair—Research, Department of Surgery
Academic Division Head, Orthopedic Surgery
Canada Research Chair in Evidence-Based Orthopedics
McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario

When should I consult my doctor about my knee pain?

Dr. Bhandari

MD, PhD, FRCSC
Professor and University Scholar
Associate Chair—Research, Department of Surgery
Academic Division Head, Orthopedic Surgery
Canada Research Chair in Evidence-Based Orthopedics
McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario

What is hyaluronic acid and what can it do for osteoarthritis knee pain?

What is the role of injectable hyaluronic acid in the management of osteoarthritis knee pain?

Physiotherapist

Four strategies to keep you at the top of your game

Are your knees causing you pain? Are they stopping you from participating in the activities you love? To manage discomfort, you’ve tried icing them and taking pain medication, but the pain still persists. Now what?

When you have pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee, you want a solution that provides relief. Live the life you want; don’t let knee pain stop you. Here are four strategies that can help you play that tennis match, walk your dog, or keep up with your kids.

Tips from a physiotherapist
Darryl Yardley
Physical Therapist

Keep moving!

Staying as mobile and active as possible can reduce your knee pain, help you to stay independent, and improve your quality of life. Many individuals are afraid to exercise because they believe—mistakenly—that it could cause further damage to their knees. Most of us do not get enough exercise in our daily lives and so we develop aches and pains. Your body needs to move. The important thing is to set realistic goals, do some form of exercise that you enjoy, and do it regularly. Exercise does not have to be complex; often a combination of simple stretching, strengthening, and low-impact fitness exercises are best.

Move better!

Injections of hyaluronic acid (found naturally in a healthy knee joint) help to improve the lubrication and cushioning of the knee joint caused by damage to the joint (cartilage). It is also known as a viscosupplement, a clear gel-like substance that helps the knee bones and cartilage to move smoothly. It closely mimics healthy synovial fluid to lubricate joints, much like how oil lubricates your car engine. Clinical trials support this treatment can decrease pain, improve your functional mobility, and is generally well tolerated.

Eat right!

Being overweight may make the symptoms, including pain, you experience as a result of osteoarthritis of the knee worse or harder to manage because your knee joint is under additional stress. By losing any surplus body weight through exercise and a healthy diet, you can help ease the pain. While there is no definitive anti-arthritis diet, it is important that you eat a healthy, balanced diet for your general health. If your diet contains more energy (calories) than you burn, your body will convert the extra energy to fat and you will gain weight. If you are going to eat fewer calories, it is important not to lose out on the vitamins, minerals, and other key nutrients for healthy living. You may want to seek the expertise of a registered dietitian to help you.

Embrace technology!

A lightweight, low-profile knee brace can be worn during your daily activities and exercises to provide some knee pain relief and improve functional mobility. Specific braces can apply corrective forces to the knee to take pressure off the affected area of the joint. Studies have demonstrated that braces can reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. Bracing is commonly used in conjunction with other treatments, such as exercise, weight loss, pain medication, and viscosupplementation or other injection therapies.

By understanding your knee pain, you will be better equipped to find solutions that will empower you to participate in the activities you love.

Consult a specialist about your knee pain

We strongly encourage you to consult with your doctor or physiotherapist for more information on these strategies and to determine the best clinically proven treatments to keep YOU moving.

Find a specialist

Darryl Yardley, PT, FCAMPT
Manager, Therapy Services, Brant Community Healthcare System
Consultant, Hip Preservation Group
Assistant Professor, Business & Entrepreneurship in Physical Therapy, Western University
Chair, Private Practice Division, Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Director, EnCORE Research Inc.
Entry to Practice Essentials (Canadian PCE Study Guide)

Naturopath

Weight loss is key for reducing knee pain

Osteoarthritic knee pain can be debilitating, causing both physical discomfort and mental-emotional stress. There are a number of different approaches that can help ease the pain. Losing body weight to reduce the load on your weight-bearing joints can play a major role in relieving pain and preventing further joint damage. Even a small amount of weight loss can make a big difference. Losing 1 lb. of weight has been shown to reduce the stress load on the knee by 4 lb.¹ This means, for example, that if you were to lose 5 lb. it would be like having 20 lb. less for your knees to support with each step, and 20 lb. less wear and tear.¹

Losing weight can seem like a very difficult and challenging task. There are many theories and strategies with conflicting and contrasting ideas that can make sorting out exactly what to do to lose weight rather confusing. To help simplify things and bring you some clarity, there are some key points that you should focus on.

Tips from a naturopath
Dr. Cowan
Naturopathic doctor

Calories do matter

Energy balance, or calories taken in versus calories burned, is central to weight loss.² Most people underestimate how many calories they consume each day, so gaining awareness of your calorie intake is a great place to start. Track your calorie intake each day for one week, including on the weekend, to see how many calories you are actually consuming. There are many websites or apps on your smartphone that you can use to make tracking simple and easy. Be sure to include all food and drinks!

Use these calculations to get yourself into a caloric deficit

Use the calculator below to calculate your basal metabolic rate (BMR).³

Are you a

Man

Woman

Enter your
Weight (kg)

Height (cm)

Age (years)

Select your activity level

Little to no exercise

Light exercise
(1—3 days per week)

Moderate exercise
(3—5 days per week)

Heavy exercise
(6—7 days per week)

Very heavy exercise (twice per day, extra-heavy workouts)

Your BMR:

XXXX

Number of calories you need to take in to maintain your current weight: ⁴

XXXX calories

To start losing weight, you need to be eating fewer calories than what your body requires to maintain your current weight. A good goal is to aim for a 500-calorie deficit per day, which equals a 3500 calorie deficit per week, which equals 1 lb. of weight loss per week.

Focus on eating whole foods

A diet rich in whole foods provides you with maximal nutrients and minimal calories. On the other hand, highly processed and packaged foods are very high in calories and excess sugar and low in nutrients. Some examples of whole foods include fresh fruit, vegetables, chicken, fish, beef, turkey, eggs, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, and coconut oil.

Man cutting vegetables on a wooden cutting board

Pay attention to your protein intake

Protein intake is very important for weight loss as it reduces your appetite, boosts metabolism, and helps improve weight-loss hormones.⁵ Increasing protein intake to 30% of calorie intake has been shown to be very effective for weight loss.⁶ To calculate this for yourself, you can multiply 0.075 by the number of calories you want to be consuming.

The type of diet isn’t that important—consistency is key

There are so many different types of diets that it is hard to know which one to follow. When research was done to examine some of the most well-known diet approaches, it was confirmed that many diets work for weight loss, from low-fat all the way to low-carb. It was also shown that the common thread for success between each of these dietary approaches was that they all ensured that the dieter was in a caloric deficit.² This is why the best diet for you to lose weight is one that puts you in a caloric deficit and one that you can maintain over time.

You can’t out-exercise a bad diet

People tend to overestimate the amount of impact exercise has on weight loss and underestimate the number of calories they take in. For example, a 60-minute walk at a moderate pace for a 180 lb. person burns approximately 200 calories, and one chocolate bar is 245 calories.⁷ People will often go for a long walk and then treat themselves to a snack when they get back or later in the day that will then negate the caloric expenditure of the walk.

Watch out for weekend spoilers

Many people are able to stay on track and be in a consistent calorie deficit during the week but then treat themselves too much on the weekend, undoing their week of work. For example, you can be in a deficit by 2,500 calories during the week, then easily eat an extra 2,500 calories on the weekend.

Using these strategies will give you a great foundation to begin the weight-loss process. As with any changes to your everyday health routine, it is important to consult your doctor to make sure that you are following the appropriate guidelines for your individual needs.

Consult a specialist about your knee pain

Osteoarthritis treatment is not one-size-fits-all. To find a treatment regimen suited to your lifestyle and needs, it’s best to consult a specialist. Find a specialist near you with our clinic locator.

Find a specialist