When is exercise therapy recommended for knee osteoarthritis?

Knee osteoarthritis may cause stiffness after rest, discomfort on stairs, or difficulty with squatting and standing. Exercise therapy can include strengthening for the thigh, hip, and calf, along with mobility, balance, and task practice. Building control around the knee can make walking and transfers feel more secure.

A physiotherapist can choose seated, supported, or standing exercises according to your symptoms. The plan is useful at different stages, including when symptoms are mild and you want to preserve activity.

Begin at a level you can repeat with good technique. Increase resistance, range, or duration one change at a time. Gentle activity between sessions can prevent long periods of stillness, while cycling or water-based movement may offer alternatives when impact is uncomfortable. If swelling or pain remains noticeably worse afterward, pause progression and discuss the response.

Seek medical advice for a hot, very swollen knee, fever, inability to bear weight, or a knee that locks and will not straighten. Review is also sensible after a significant injury, sudden giving way, or a rapid change in symptoms. These situations may need examination before an exercise plan continues.

Ask which muscles need attention, how much discomfort is acceptable, and how to adapt exercises on a swollen day. Ask what walking, stair, or strength goal would indicate that the plan is helping.