The most prevalent form of knee arthritis is osteoarthritis. This generally occurs in middle aged and old aged people due to the cartilage in the joint progressively wearing out. Knee osteoarthritis is quite prevalent in those above fifty years of age, more so in women. This form of arthritis may affect one side of the knee (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral). However, its most common occurrence is at the inner part of the knee (medial).

Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that can occur during any age and normally affects both the knees. It is inflammatory in nature and can obliterate the cartilage around the joint.

Post traumatic arthritis is a kind of arthritis wherein a knee injury would normally be the cause. This type bears similarities with osteoarthritis and can take a long time to build up after ligament injuries, fractures and meniscus tears. Knee arthritis of this kind is common amongst people who are actively involved in playing high intensity sports like football or rugby.

Some of the causes that are attributed to causing knee arthritis include obesity, prolonged and extensive usage of the knee, previous injuries affecting the knee, genetic factors, etc.

The symptoms of knee arthritis include pain in the knee which worsens after physical activity, swelling, stiffness early in the morning which reduces as the day progresses, cracking or clicking sounds when the knee is moved, etc. Symptoms, when it comes to knee arthritis, can take years to develop.

In order to diagnose the type of knee arthritis the patient has, a medical professional would first need to evaluate the nature of the pain and its severity. The knee’s movement would also be checked. If the joint space appears to be narrowing within an X-Ray, there is a good chance that knee arthritis has set in. Some particular cases require an MRI. Any changes in the soft tissue in the joint can be seen through this. A sample of the blood is taken at times, to remove the possibility of the presence of any other kind of arthritis.

While there is no cure for knee arthritis, an arthritis remedy to ease the pain and slow down the condition’s progression can be used. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) like ibuprofen are known to provide temporary relief during pain. With obesity being a cause for some forms of knee arthritis, weight loss, if required, is known to provide considerable relief and also helps slow down the progression of the condition.

Another arthritis remedy is the use of muscle relaxants. Low doses are normally administered and help in relieving pain caused by the strain put on the muscle in order to hold up the affected knee. Detailed exercise programs can also help in maintaining the quality of the cartilage and the knee’s motion range.