What to expect from physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis

The first assessment may review pain, stiffness, walking, stairs, balance, muscle strength, and how symptoms affect sleep or work. Exercises often focus on the quadriceps, hips, and calf, alongside knee mobility. Your therapist may also discuss pacing, supportive footwear, walking aids, and ways to modify tasks without stopping all movement.

Knee osteoarthritis can fluctuate. A good programme is adjusted to your response rather than pushed through a flare. Progress may mean walking farther, rising from a chair more easily, or feeling steadier, even if occasional symptoms remain.

Practise the home exercises regularly and use the technique shown in your session. Break demanding activities into manageable periods, then build time or resistance gradually. Low-impact options such as cycling or water exercise may be suitable for some people, but choose them with advice if bending or weight-bearing is difficult.

Record which activities increase stiffness or swelling and share this pattern at review. Physiotherapy can be part of a wider plan that includes medical assessment, symptom relief, and discussion of other options if function remains limited.

Seek medical advice if pain changes suddenly, the knee becomes hot and markedly swollen, you develop fever, or you cannot bear weight. Prompt review is also appropriate for repeated falls, new locking, or a knee that repeatedly gives way.

Which exercises fit my current symptoms? How should I adjust the programme during a flare? Would a walking aid or brace help me move safely? What improvement should we track, and when should we reconsider the diagnosis or treatment plan?