Diagnosis can be set after a thorough clinical examination and confirmed by imaging. Clinical findings with patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis can include complaints of restricted knee function, pain increase with activity, stiffness (especially morning stiffness), decreased range of movement, and knee swelling. Other symptoms may include crepitus and pain and stiffening occurring after prolonged resting. The condition negatively affects mental health and overall quality of life. 
 

Stage 1: pain is sharp and occasional but does not affect daily activities significantly;
Stage 2: pain becomes constant, affecting daily activities; stiffness starts to occur;
Stage 3: constant, dull pain with unpredictable episodes of exacerbation; daily activities are seriously affected. 

Diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis is largely based on clinical examination. When examining the affected limb, look for the following: 

• Tenderness around the joint line
• Reduced range of motion
• Joint deformity and swelling
• Instability (when weight bearing). 

During clinical examination, you should perform specific tests confirming your diagnosis. It is recommended to rely on performance-based tests when assessing and re-assessing the condition. These include:

• 30-second chair stand test
• 4x10m fast-paced walk test
• Stair climb test

X-ray is the reference to confirm the diagnosis of KOA as well as grade its severity. Ultrasound and MRI may also be used.  

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis can include both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical methods such as the Guided DolorClast^® Therapy. When choosing appropriate treatment, you should consider the patient’s comorbidities, including CVDs (cardiovascular diseases), gastrointestinal bleeding risk, and renal capacity. 

A holistic approach is crucial, as only by taking into account all factors is it possible to obtain satisfactory and long-lasting outcomes. Talking to your patient about their awareness of the disease and resolving any doubts makes them more inclined to follow the complete treatment regimen and ensure satisfactory treatment results. 

Pain can have multiple origins, such as mechanical strain, degeneration of tissues, inflammation, and edema. The tendency is often to treat the dominating symptom, in this case, pain but not its cause. With quick fixes such as painkillers, the underlying inflammation can be neglected. Although the patient may be satisfied with the disappearance of the pain, it may cause more damage due to the stress applied to the silenced injury. Radial Shock Wave Therapy, compared to other approaches, effectively reduces pain and inflammation with no side effects.