08/26/2025
Weak And Painful Knee? It may be osteoarthritis.
Do you suffer from knee pain that has developed gradually over the years?
Knee pain may affect your day-to-day activities like walking or using stairs. Knee pain can be cause by osteoarthritis, from poor alignment of the leg when the hip and pelvis are weak or poor alignment when the feet are not providing the right amount of support….or a combination of these factors.
What is osteoarthritis (OA)?
Many people are concerned when they hear the word arthritis, but it doesn’t need to be a cause of concern for most people. In short, osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition which mostly affect middle-aged or older people. But it is not just seen in the older population; a 2005 study estimated that 26.9 million Americans show signs of clinical OA.1
OA is more common to occur in the larger joints such as the hip, knee, big toe and spine. It's important to note that osteoarthritis doesn't have a precise starting point, as cartilage breakdown is a gradual process that can take time to cause noticeable symptom. You can think of it like the wear and tear seen on your carpets in your home – one day you notice them worn down, but you can’t give a specific date of when it started.
Some factors that may contribute to the development of knee OA include:
Older age. The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.
S*x assigned at birth. People assigned female at birth are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn't clear why.
Obesity. Carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthritis in several ways. The more you weigh, the greater your risk. Increased weight adds stress to weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. Also, fat tissue produces proteins that can cause harmful swelling in and around your joints.
Joint injuries. Injuries, such as those that happen when playing sports or from an accident, can increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Even injuries that occurred many years ago can increase the risk of osteoarthritis.
Repeated stress on the joint. If a job or sport places repetitive stress on a joint, that joint might develop osteoarthritis someday.
Genetics. Some people inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthritis.
Bone deformities. Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage.
Certain metabolic diseases. These include diabetes and a condition in which your body has too much iron, called hemochromatosis.
Studies have shown reduced quality of life in people who suffer from knee OA
There is evidence that exercise can improve quality of life for people with OA
Exercise not only helps with strengthening the muscles around your knee, but it also improves overall psychosocial health, which plays a significant role in healing and response to pain.
Physiotherapists can accurately diagnosis of your condition and help manage your condition. Your PhysioWorks Physiotherapist will do an assessment to provide you with an individualized approach to care. Keep in mind OA is not the only cause for knee pain and weakness – this is why it is important to get an assessment to determine the cause of your knee pain. Call or book online today. Imagine a life where arthritis doesn’t define what you can do!
1. Lawrence RC, Felson DT, Helmick CG, Arnold LM, Choi H, Deyo RA, Gabriel S, Hirsch R, Hochberg MC, Hunder GG, Jordan JM, Katz JN, Kremers HM, Wolfe F; National Arthritis Data Workgroup. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part II. Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Jan;58(1):26-35. doi: 10.1002/art.23176. PMID: 18163497; PMCID: PMC3266664.
