Stage 1
The joint cartilage has invisible signs of degeneration. It's less elastic than healthy cartilage and can't recover well after being subjected to strain. Initial knee pain may occur under high strain.
Less knee pain. More life.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the most common joint conditions — discover how Ottobock knee orthoses can help you stay active.
Get in TouchTake a new path — put a stop to osteoarthritic pain
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, with estimates indicating that more than 8.5 million people in the United Kingdom are affected by this joint disease. Although the risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age, young and active people can also be affected by the disease.
Osteoarthritis most often develops in the knee. The diagnosis can make those affected feel uncertain, with many fearing they will always have knee pain. They wonder how long they will still be able to pursue their hobbies or climb stairs. Is there a way to reduce pain besides medication, or a way to avoid or delay an operation?
Yes, there is! There are many options for living an active life with osteoarthritis. In many cases, an orthosis can help reduce the pain, and help you regain your quality of life. Thanks to the appropriate orthosis, surgery can often be avoided. This page will tell you what you need to know about osteoarthritis of the knee. You will also find tips and information that will help you live your life with this condition.
Orthotic devices for osteoarthritis of the knee
If you have osteoarthritis, an Ottobock orthosis can help alleviate pain and reduce the strain on your knee joints — opening the door to a more active, less painful life.
Explore Agilium RangeSymptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee (knee OA) is a degenerative condition that leads to progressive changes in the knee. In the initial stage of osteoarthritis, you only sometimes experience pain or restrictions in movement, or even not at all. With advanced osteoarthritis of the knee, pain and discomfort can increase. Most people will develop osteoarthritis over their lives due to wearing of the knee joint. Risk factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, overloading and incorrect loading of the joints can create the conditions for osteoarthritis to develop.
Osteoarthritic changes the knee joint
Osteoarthritis of the knee typically starts with signs of wear and tear in the joint cartilage. As time passes, the cartilage surface becomes rough and uneven and the joint no longer moves smoothly. Increasing friction leads to painful inflammation in the knee. In the advanced stages of osteoarthritis, cartilage damage increases and all the tissue involved in the joint is affected. The bones form spurs (osteophytes) and causes stiffening, in the process. Knee pain occurs and becomes more severe over time.
Disease progression: stages of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the knee is classified into four degrees of severity:
Stage 2
The cartilage tissue becomes thinner as well as rough and uneven and the bones form initial spurs (osteophytes). The knee's ability to bear weight is decreased, and at this stage of osteoarthritis, progression can be effectively slowed by exercises, weight loss and medical devices such as orthoses.
Stage 3
The cartilage has partly disappeared meaning the bones begin to rub against each other in some areas and X-rays show pronounced bone spurs and narrowing of the joint space. At this advanced stage, osteoarthritis causes considerable restrictions of movement and knee pain.
Stage 4
The joint space has narrowed considerably and the joint cartilage has almost completely disappeared, with the bones often damaged as well as the joint being deformed and often inflamed. In this final stage, joint replacement surgery may be the best solution.
The vicious circle of osteoarthritis
Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee frequently get caught in a vicious circle: In order to relieve the pain in their knee, the affected person exercises less and often adopts a certain posture to avoid discomfort. However, restricting their movement only provides short-term relief from pain. In the long run, a lack of exercise accelerates cartilage wear and increases pain in the knee. The affected person rests their knee even more often instead of exercising it, and the vicious circle closes. Furthermore, the unnatural posture they take to avoid discomfort also puts excessive strain on other joints such as the hips.
Initial symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee
The sooner osteoarthritis of the knee is diagnosed and actively addressed, the better the chances of getting knee pain under control. Maintaining joint mobility and slowing down the progressive changes in the knee joint will lead to a more positive outcome.
If you experience the following symptoms in your knee on a recurring basis, you should contact your doctor:
- •Knee pain after rest (start-up pain)
- •Knee pain after exertion
- •Knee pain during certain movements
- •Knee stiffness
- •Grinding and cracking in the knee joint
- •Swelling and inflammation in the knee
Diagnosis and therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee
If you have knee pain or limited knee function, you should first contact your doctor who will put you in touch with an orthotist. Early diagnosis is key — the sooner treatment starts, the better the long-term outcome.
Diagnosing osteoarthritis of the knee
When talking to your doctor, you should give a detailed description of your knee problems and answer their questions precisely. In addition to the knee pain, other factors such as restricted mobility, history of injury, and physical activity will be assessed. Imaging tests like X-rays or MRI scans are commonly used to confirm the diagnosis.
Therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee
There are three basic treatment methods for osteoarthritis of the knee: conservative (non-invasive) therapy, invasive joint-preserving therapy, and invasive joint-replacing therapy. The right approach depends on the severity of your osteoarthritis and your individual needs.
Orthotic devices can relieve knee pain
Knee or lower-leg-foot-braces, such as the Agilium Freestep, are specifically designed to relieve painful areas in the knee joint and can provide sustained relief from knee pain. In many cases, orthotics can help those affected by osteoarthritis of the knee to stop using analgesics or decrease the dose of medication, reducing side effects from the medication. Knee or lower-leg-foot-orthoses enable patients with osteoarthritis of the knee to move around and engage in sports with almost no pain. In this way, they're able to break the vicious circle of pain, lack of exercise and progressive deterioration of the osteoarthritis.
"Most of my patients are very satisfied with the new orthosis. More than half of them have been able to avoid surgery so far."
Taking a new path with orthoses from Ottobock
Find out about the experiences that patients with osteoarthritis of the knee have had and how they are taking new paths with orthoses from Ottobock.
Orthoses from Ottobock: solutions for different knee problems
Ottobock has developed tailor-made orthotics for different knee issues and injuries. Get an overview of the range of Ottobock orthotics for osteoarthritis of the knee.
Active against osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the knee cannot be cured, but you can effectively alleviate pain and discomfort and significantly improve your quality of life if you actively work on managing the condition. Three pillars support active management: balanced nutrition, regular everyday exercise, and the right type of sports.
Nutrition
Nutrition can play an important role in slowing osteoarthritis. Foods such as fruits and vegetables, salads, plant oils, nuts and seeds should make up the foundation of your diet. If you're overweight, losing weight reduces the strain on your knee joints and can significantly reduce pain.
Exercise in everyday life
Regular exercise is essential to counteracting the progressive changes caused by osteoarthritis, maintaining knee function, and relieving pain. Small daily habits — like taking the stairs, walking instead of driving short distances, or stretching — make a measurable difference over time.
Types of sports
In addition to everyday exercise, regularly engaging in certain sports is ideal for keeping osteoarthritis under control. Swimming, water aerobics, Nordic walking, cycling, and gentle hiking are all knee-friendly options that build strength and endurance without overloading the joints.
Agilium Move: special training for osteoarthritis of the knee
Get your knee in shape: watch the Agilium Move videos featuring special exercises for balance, strength, and endurance for osteoarthritis of the knee. Our Agilium Move programme was developed together with experts to keep you mobile and pain-free.
Endurance exercises
The Agilium Move endurance exercises focus on getting your entire body moving, without placing too much strain on it. As with swimming or cycling, you should try to keep moving for as long as possible as this will stimulate the supply of nutrients to your joints, which also helps maintain the cartilage. If you complete the exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee on a regular basis, you will gradually be able to walk without pain for progressively longer distances.
Balance exercises
In our Agilium Move balance exercises, former professional skier Christian Neureuther shows you how to specifically train your quadriceps and the muscles that control the knee joint. These exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee will help improve your proprioception (self-awareness) of your knee, and in turn, improve the connection between the dynamic muscles and the stabilising muscles used in different movement patterns.
Strength exercises
Osteoarthritis of the knee leads to imbalance, not only in the cartilage but also in the surrounding muscle tissue. Strong muscles provide stability for the bony structures in the joint, so focusing on exercises that strengthen the thigh muscles can help reduce symptoms associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Frequently asked questions about osteoarthritis of the knee
Active again thanks to the Agilium: three people talk about their lives
Real people, real journeys: meet three patients who have regained their everyday activities thanks to an Agilium orthosis.
Dirk's Agilium Reactive
If you do manual work, you need a device that offers you as much freedom and flexibility as possible if you have knee pain. Dirk, who is self-employed and restores mills, found just the right brace to relieve his pain — the Agilium Reactive.
Christoph with the Agilium Freestep
Christoph has osteoarthritis of the knee. "The Agilium Freestep 3.0 lets me do many things I couldn't have done before. I can't imagine a day without the brace."
Kadri's Agilium Patella
After a tibial plateau fracture, athlete Kadri developed osteoarthritis behind her patella. This significantly restricted her mobility and caused severe pain. The Agilium Patella is helping Kadri get back to her old self.
Back to everyday activities: three steps to an Ottobock orthosis
Getting fitted with the right Ottobock orthosis is a clear, step-by-step process designed to put you back in control.
1. Talk to your doctor
Discuss your knee symptoms and ask whether an orthotic device might be a fit for you. Your doctor can refer you to an orthotist.
2. Get fitted by an orthotist
An orthotist will assess your knee and adjust an Agilium device to your individual needs for the best fit and effect.
3. Return to active life
Wear your orthosis daily — combined with movement, exercise, and good nutrition — to enjoy pain relief and renewed mobility.
Our products for osteoarthritis of the knee
Thanks to the Agilium line of products, many satisfied patients have been able to resume their regular everyday activities. Learn more about the individual orthoses and find the right fit for your needs.
Agilium Reactive
Active knee orthosis offering dynamic relief for medial or lateral knee osteoarthritis — ideal for an active lifestyle.
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Agilium Vantage
Slim knee orthosis combining comfort with sustained pain relief — fits discreetly under everyday clothing.
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Agilium Forte
Robust knee orthosis providing strong unloading and stability for advanced knee osteoarthritis.
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