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Hip and knee arthritis - tips 

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION OF VICTORIA
www.arthritisvic.org.au  ... (Copy reviewed 2009)

Hip and Knee arthritis - tips

This sheet has been written for people with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and/or knee. There are many treatments that may be helpful if you have hip and/or knee OA. Here are some things you could try.

Self management course

These courses help you develop skills to manage your symptoms, communicate with your healthcare team and lessen the impact of arthritis on your life. Click here for details of these courses. 

Exercise

Exercise is one of the most important treatments for OA of the hip and knee. It helps to reduce pain and maintain your general health. To protect your sore joints, try low-impact activities, where there is less
weight going through your hips and knees. Examples of low-impact activities include cycling, walking and tai chi. You could also try: 

• Water exercise: The buoyancy of the water takes pressure off your hips and knees and you may find you can move more freely than you can on land.You could swim, do a hydrotherapy session with a
  physiotherapist or join a local warm water exercise class. There may be suitable classes at local pools or at hydrotherapy pools (heated to around 34 degrees), found at hospitals, community health centres or physiotherapy clinics.
• Strengthening exercises: Physiotherapy exercises to strengthen the muscles around your hip and knee can also help reduce pain from OA. See the Physical activity sheet for more information about
  exercise. If possible, consult a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist for advice about a program to suit you.

Weight loss

Being overweight can lead to more pain and damage to hips and knees affected by OA. Even modest weight loss (less than five kilograms) can reduce symptoms of knee OA. You may find it useful to see a dietitian for advice about healthy eating and weight loss.

More information