Which specialist treats knee osteoarthritis?

Knee osteoarthritis can make walking, stairs, or prolonged standing harder and may cause pain, swelling, clicking, or a sense that the knee gives way. These symptoms can have different causes, so examination matters. A physiotherapist can build strength and movement control, while the orthopaedic specialist reviews the joint and considers further options when symptoms continue.

Book with an orthopaedic clinician who treats knee conditions. Record when pain occurs, whether the knee swells, and how far you can walk or climb stairs. Bring scan reports and a medication list. Ask for a staged plan: exercise and load management may come first, with an injection or an operation considered only if the findings and ongoing limitations support it.

Arrange routine care for persistent knee pain, recurrent swelling, difficulty walking, or worsening stair problems. Seek urgent assessment after an injury if the knee is badly swollen, visibly deformed, locked, or unable to bear weight. A hot, red knee with fever needs prompt medical attention rather than waiting for a routine arthritis appointment.

Ask whether the findings fit knee osteoarthritis, what your imaging shows, and which exercises are suitable. Discuss how to manage swelling and which activities to modify. If an injection or surgery is proposed, ask what problem it targets, what other options exist, and how progress will be reviewed.