[Health Tip] Spring Outing Pitfall, How to Manage Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis

Mr. Park (52), who lives in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, experienced knee pain so severe that he could not sleep after hiking. The diagnosis he received at the hospital was degenerative knee osteoarthritis. The sudden increase in activity without adequately loosening stiff muscles and ligaments put strain on the knee joint cartilage.

Knee pain stock photo. [Image source=Getty Images]

If you engage in sudden exercise or outdoor activities such as hiking without sufficient warm-up, the cartilage in the knee joint can be easily damaged. Professor Kim Junho of the Department of Orthopedics at Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital said, "If your knee swells and hurts after hiking or exercising, it could be due to cartilage damage or degenerative knee osteoarthritis, so it is advisable to see a specialist."

The typical symptoms of degenerative knee osteoarthritis are knee pain and swelling. You may hear creaking sounds or experience restricted knee movement when sitting down or standing up, walking on flat ground, or going up and down stairs. In the early stages, you might only feel slight pain when using stairs or suddenly standing up from a seated position, and symptoms may lessen with rest without overexertion. As the condition progresses to the mid-stage, cartilage tissue is damaged, causing severe pain and swelling after prolonged walking.

If these symptoms are neglected and worsen, severe pain while walking can make it difficult to walk. Pain may become intense even without movement, causing distress, and leg deformities may occur, requiring caution. Bow-legged deformity (O-shaped legs) can develop as degenerative arthritis progresses, with aggravating factors including sitting on the floor, kneeling, and hiking.

Professor Kim Junho, Department of Orthopedics, Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital. [Photo by Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital]

If the symptoms worsen to the point where daily life becomes difficult due to pain or stiffness, or if chronic knee inflammation does not respond to hospital drug treatments, and if there is severe knee deformity, surgery may be necessary. If the pain requires daily medication, surgery is considered necessary. In surgical treatment, the patient's age, weight, and physical activity are important considerations. Degenerative knee osteoarthritis is strongly related to aging. Other influencing factors include gender, age, genetics, obesity, lifestyle habits, and physical activities such as exercise. For women, osteoporosis accompanied by decreased bone density after menopause is an example.

To manage degenerative knee osteoarthritis, it is essential to make weight loss, exercise, and avoiding poor posture part of daily life. Losing more than 7% of your body weight improves knee pain. It is recommended to minimize food intake after 6 p.m., and to engage in lower body strengthening exercises such as swimming or brisk walking on flat ground. If cycling, it is best to raise the saddle as high as possible to minimize knee flexion, and to avoid postures such as sitting cross-legged or squatting. It is also advisable to avoid climbing stairs, hiking, or walking on slopes as much as possible.

- Knee hurts when walking on flat ground.
- The knee feels heavy and the joint feels misaligned even with simple movements.
- Knee hurts after sitting or standing in one position for a long time.
- Knee does not straighten well and makes creaking sounds when standing up from sitting.
- Knee is swollen, warm, and painful mainly in the evening or after exercise.
- Joints feel stiff and rigid upon waking up.
- Pain occurs not only in the knee but also in the hips, hip joints, feet, and spine?areas bearing body weight.
- Difficulty climbing stairs and maintaining an upright sitting posture.
※ If you experience even one of these symptoms persistently, medical consultation is recommended.