Spotting the Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis
18 October 2022 | Written by the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Synphaet Hospital

Knee osteoarthritis symptoms typically develop gradually and worsen over time. Key signs include:

Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis

1. Pain:

   • Most common symptom, often triggered by movement (e.g., climbing stairs, squatting).

   • Improves with rest.

   • Persists for over 6 months.

2. Stiffness:

   • Worst in the morning or after prolonged inactivity.

   • Eases gradually with movement.

3. Tenderness:

   • Pain upon pressing the inner or outer knee joint.

4. Loss of Flexibility:

   • Reduced ability to fully bend or straighten the knee, affecting daily activities like sitting/standing.

5. Crepitus (Grinding Noise):

   • Crackling or grating sounds during knee movement due to cartilage wear and thickened synovium/tendons.

6. Bone Spurs:

   • Hard, bony lumps around the joint.

7. Deformity:

   • Knee misalignment (bowlegged or knock-kneed appearance) as degeneration progresses, shortening the leg.

8. Swelling/Warmth:

   • Caused by inflammation.