OSTEOARTHRITIS OF KNEE By Dr Niranjan Ganjewar It's so common to hear that someone is having pain in knee joint. It has become a daily routine term these days. As the age progresses knee osteoarthritis severity increases causing lot of problems to the person who is suffering from it, most of the times, our beloved elderly people. Let us talk about what are the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (early and late) and what increases the severity of the disease. Osteoarthritis of knee joint is a disease of cartilage which itself can be explained in nutshell as the protective layer or covering on the bony ends which meet at the joints. Once this cartilage starts getting affected, patient starts developing osteoarthritis. Symptoms of osteoarthritis • PAIN This is the most common complaint of patient suffering from osteoarthritis. This pain is typically more when the patient tries to get up from a sitting position be it on the ground or on the chair. • SWELLING Swelling around the knee joint due to synovitis (inflammation of the covering of joint) • DEFORMITY OF THE JOINT SUCH AS BOWING OF LEGS • RESTRICTIONS OF MOVEMENTS • REDUCED MUSCLE POWER • WASTING OF MUSCLES Few daily routine habits and physical health factors affect this osteoarthritis symptoms • Obesity • Lack of exercises • Uncontrolled Diabetes • Female Gender • Osteoporosis • Heavy work • Repeated sitting and getting up from ground