St. Peter's Hospital: "Early management is key in degenerative arthritis of the knee"
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St. Peter's Hospital 26-07-01 00:00Main content
St. Peter's Hospital: "Early management is key in degenerative arthritis of the knee"
3.28 million osteoarthritis patients last year… the 2nd most common cause of admission for people in their 60s and 70s
Recurring pain, swelling or difficulty walking calls for early diagnosis
Weight control, exercise and better posture all help
Reporter Choi In-hwan Posted 2026.07.01 11:10
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Courtesy of St. Peter's Hospital
Courtesy of St. Peter's Hospital
Degenerative arthritis is a leading chronic condition that lowers quality of life in later years. When it affects the knee in particular, it causes pain and difficulty walking, which can reduce physical activity and lead to worsening health, so early diagnosis and pre-emptive management are said to be important.
St. Peter's Hospital said that degenerative arthritis is not simply a phenomenon of aging but a condition in which structural changes in the joint and inflammatory responses act together, and that anyone with recurring knee pain, swelling and difficulty walking needs to see a specialist.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It develops mainly in joints that are used heavily or bear a heavy load, such as the knees, hips, spine and hands.
Excessive use of and load on a joint bring about degenerative changes in the joint tissue and trigger an inflammatory response. This can result in joint pain, stiffness, swelling and deformity.
According to figures released by the World Health Organization in 2023, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 600 million people worldwide. Of these, people aged 55 and over account for 73%.
It is also common among older people in Korea. According to the Korea Health Statistics, the average prevalence among those aged 65 and over from 2017 to 2021 was 30.2%.
According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of osteoarthritis patients last year was about 3.28 million. Among people in their 60s and 70s it was the second most common cause of hospital admission after cataracts. By frequency of outpatient visits it ranked fifth for those in their 60s and fourth for those in their 70s.
Kang, Seung-Baik, orthopedic Director of the Knee Joint Center at St. Peter's Hospital, said, "A considerable proportion of patients aged 60 and over who come to the hospital with knee or back problems are diagnosed with osteoarthritis."
He went on to stress, “Managing and treating the joints properly, on the basis of a correct understanding and awareness of osteoarthritis, can determine the quality of a healthy old age.”
A common misconception about osteoarthritis is that it is a condition everyone naturally develops with age.
Viewing osteoarthritis as simply a phenomenon of aging, however, is not medically appropriate. According to recent research, a variety of factors act together in the development of osteoarthritis, separately from aging, including changes in the articular cartilage, inflammation and structural changes in the bone beneath the cartilage.
Those with a history of joint damage or trauma, such as athletes, can develop osteoarthritis even at a young age.
Women have a relatively high incidence of osteoarthritis. According to WHO statistics, about 60% of all osteoarthritis patients are women. Based on Korea National Health Statistics, the prevalence of degenerative arthritis among women reaches 43.5%. More than 70% of patients with knee arthritis in particular are known to be post-menopausal women.
Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness and restricted joint movement. Symptoms generally progress slowly, but they can worsen rapidly if a fall or injury damages the ligaments around the joint.
As symptoms worsen, pain can be felt even without using the joint. In that case, restricted activity reduces muscle use, which can lead on to frailty and sarcopenia. It can also contribute to an increased risk of falls, as well as to cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and depression.
The knee in particular is the joint most often affected by osteoarthritis, because it bears a large load and is heavily used. WHO figures likewise show that knee osteoarthritis accounts for more than half of all cases.
Typical symptoms of knee arthritis include knee pain or swelling after walking for a long time, pain when going up and down stairs, and the knee failing to straighten properly or hurting when standing up after sitting.
A grinding sound in the knee when walking, or a change in gait because of pain, is also counted as a suspicious symptom.
If such symptoms recur, it is better to get an accurate diagnosis than to dismiss them as simple aging or fatigue. The knee is an important joint for walking, so osteoarthritis there can go beyond mere discomfort and affect motor function and physical activity overall.
Director Kang, Seung-Baik said, "Degenerative arthritis may involve only intermittent pain at first, but over time there is a strong likelihood that degenerative changes such as narrowing of the joint space, sclerosis and deformity will develop, along with worsening swelling and pain."
He advised, "Once degenerative change has set in, a joint cannot be restored, so it is important to watch your knee health carefully day to day and to visit the hospital as soon as warning signs appear, in order to keep the joint working well for as long as possible."
Degenerative arthritis of the knee is diagnosed with a physical examination that checks the site and pattern of the pain and the range of joint motion, together with radiography. If the pain is severe relative to the plain radiography findings, or if other damage such as a meniscus tear or a microfracture is suspected, MRI may also be performed.
Treatment varies with how far the disease has progressed and with the patient's condition.
In the early stages, appropriate exercise and improvements to lifestyle habits come first. Conservative treatment such as drug therapy, physiotherapy and exercise therapy can then follow. Pain and inflammation are controlled with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the like, while hot and cold compresses, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and rehabilitative therapy are combined to maintain joint function.
Where pain is severe, injection therapy may be considered depending on the patient's condition.
Where the pain is severe enough to interfere with daily life or the response to conservative treatment is poor, surgical treatment is considered. Arthroscopic debridement, microfracture surgery to regenerate damaged areas of articular cartilage, and stem cell transplantation surgery are among the main options. They are regarded as effective where the cartilage lesion is small and there is little joint deformity.
Where cartilage damage and tearing are severe or the arthritis has progressed to an advanced stage, artificial joint replacement surgery is considered. This is an operation in which the damaged parts are removed and the joint is replaced with artificial femoral and tibial implants. It is effective in reducing pain and restoring function to a deformed joint.
An artificial joint may, however, require revision surgery in the future in some cases, and management before and after the operation, including rehabilitative therapy, is also important. The direction of treatment needs to be decided in full consultation with an experienced specialist.
Degenerative arthritis can be slowed and its symptoms eased through day-to-day management.
For knee joint health, Director Kang, Seung-Baik set out five rules: maintaining an appropriate body weight and managing eating habits, exercising regularly, avoiding postures that are bad for the joints, giving up smoking and alcohol, and managing the condition early with compresses when pain appears.
For knee joint health it is best to manage your weight and avoid postures that put strain on particular areas, such as squatting, sitting cross-legged and crossing the legs. Using a chair or sofa instead of sitting on the floor, so as to reduce how far the knee bends, also helps.
Avoiding excessive caffeine and salt intake and keeping to a balanced diet are recommended. It is also best to avoid smoking and heavy drinking.
Exercise matters too. Strengthening the muscles around the joint reduces the load on it and helps maintain function. About 30 minutes a day of light walking on level ground, stretching, swimming or riding a stationary bicycle can help strengthen the muscles around the joint and prevent stiffness. Quadriceps strengthening exercises are also regarded as effective for protecting the knee joint and building lower-body strength.
Excessive exercise that brings on pain or swelling should be avoided, however. Going up and down stairs and lifting heavy objects while squatting can place a burden on the knee, so care is needed.
When the joint feels stiff or painful during exercise, a hot or cold compress can ease the symptoms. If pain persists after exercise or the swelling does not go down, you should see a specialist.
Director Kang, Seung-Baik said, "Knee joint health is an important factor that goes beyond whether you have pain and is directly linked to healthy life expectancy in later years," adding, "Women aged 65 and over in particular should watch carefully for warning signs such as knee pain, swelling or discomfort when walking, and get an accurate diagnosis and treatment early, so that healthy joint function can be maintained for a long time."
3.28 million osteoarthritis patients last year… the 2nd most common cause of admission for people in their 60s and 70s
Recurring pain, swelling or difficulty walking calls for early diagnosis
Weight control, exercise and better posture all help
Reporter Choi In-hwan Posted 2026.07.01 11:10
Copy
Subscribe
Courtesy of St. Peter's Hospital
Courtesy of St. Peter's Hospital
Degenerative arthritis is a leading chronic condition that lowers quality of life in later years. When it affects the knee in particular, it causes pain and difficulty walking, which can reduce physical activity and lead to worsening health, so early diagnosis and pre-emptive management are said to be important.
St. Peter's Hospital said that degenerative arthritis is not simply a phenomenon of aging but a condition in which structural changes in the joint and inflammatory responses act together, and that anyone with recurring knee pain, swelling and difficulty walking needs to see a specialist.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It develops mainly in joints that are used heavily or bear a heavy load, such as the knees, hips, spine and hands.
Excessive use of and load on a joint bring about degenerative changes in the joint tissue and trigger an inflammatory response. This can result in joint pain, stiffness, swelling and deformity.
According to figures released by the World Health Organization in 2023, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 600 million people worldwide. Of these, people aged 55 and over account for 73%.
It is also common among older people in Korea. According to the Korea Health Statistics, the average prevalence among those aged 65 and over from 2017 to 2021 was 30.2%.
According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of osteoarthritis patients last year was about 3.28 million. Among people in their 60s and 70s it was the second most common cause of hospital admission after cataracts. By frequency of outpatient visits it ranked fifth for those in their 60s and fourth for those in their 70s.
Kang, Seung-Baik, orthopedic Director of the Knee Joint Center at St. Peter's Hospital, said, "A considerable proportion of patients aged 60 and over who come to the hospital with knee or back problems are diagnosed with osteoarthritis."
He went on to stress, “Managing and treating the joints properly, on the basis of a correct understanding and awareness of osteoarthritis, can determine the quality of a healthy old age.”
A common misconception about osteoarthritis is that it is a condition everyone naturally develops with age.
Viewing osteoarthritis as simply a phenomenon of aging, however, is not medically appropriate. According to recent research, a variety of factors act together in the development of osteoarthritis, separately from aging, including changes in the articular cartilage, inflammation and structural changes in the bone beneath the cartilage.
Those with a history of joint damage or trauma, such as athletes, can develop osteoarthritis even at a young age.
Women have a relatively high incidence of osteoarthritis. According to WHO statistics, about 60% of all osteoarthritis patients are women. Based on Korea National Health Statistics, the prevalence of degenerative arthritis among women reaches 43.5%. More than 70% of patients with knee arthritis in particular are known to be post-menopausal women.
Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness and restricted joint movement. Symptoms generally progress slowly, but they can worsen rapidly if a fall or injury damages the ligaments around the joint.
As symptoms worsen, pain can be felt even without using the joint. In that case, restricted activity reduces muscle use, which can lead on to frailty and sarcopenia. It can also contribute to an increased risk of falls, as well as to cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and depression.
The knee in particular is the joint most often affected by osteoarthritis, because it bears a large load and is heavily used. WHO figures likewise show that knee osteoarthritis accounts for more than half of all cases.
Typical symptoms of knee arthritis include knee pain or swelling after walking for a long time, pain when going up and down stairs, and the knee failing to straighten properly or hurting when standing up after sitting.
A grinding sound in the knee when walking, or a change in gait because of pain, is also counted as a suspicious symptom.
If such symptoms recur, it is better to get an accurate diagnosis than to dismiss them as simple aging or fatigue. The knee is an important joint for walking, so osteoarthritis there can go beyond mere discomfort and affect motor function and physical activity overall.
Director Kang, Seung-Baik said, "Degenerative arthritis may involve only intermittent pain at first, but over time there is a strong likelihood that degenerative changes such as narrowing of the joint space, sclerosis and deformity will develop, along with worsening swelling and pain."
He advised, "Once degenerative change has set in, a joint cannot be restored, so it is important to watch your knee health carefully day to day and to visit the hospital as soon as warning signs appear, in order to keep the joint working well for as long as possible."
Degenerative arthritis of the knee is diagnosed with a physical examination that checks the site and pattern of the pain and the range of joint motion, together with radiography. If the pain is severe relative to the plain radiography findings, or if other damage such as a meniscus tear or a microfracture is suspected, MRI may also be performed.
Treatment varies with how far the disease has progressed and with the patient's condition.
In the early stages, appropriate exercise and improvements to lifestyle habits come first. Conservative treatment such as drug therapy, physiotherapy and exercise therapy can then follow. Pain and inflammation are controlled with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the like, while hot and cold compresses, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and rehabilitative therapy are combined to maintain joint function.
Where pain is severe, injection therapy may be considered depending on the patient's condition.
Where the pain is severe enough to interfere with daily life or the response to conservative treatment is poor, surgical treatment is considered. Arthroscopic debridement, microfracture surgery to regenerate damaged areas of articular cartilage, and stem cell transplantation surgery are among the main options. They are regarded as effective where the cartilage lesion is small and there is little joint deformity.
Where cartilage damage and tearing are severe or the arthritis has progressed to an advanced stage, artificial joint replacement surgery is considered. This is an operation in which the damaged parts are removed and the joint is replaced with artificial femoral and tibial implants. It is effective in reducing pain and restoring function to a deformed joint.
An artificial joint may, however, require revision surgery in the future in some cases, and management before and after the operation, including rehabilitative therapy, is also important. The direction of treatment needs to be decided in full consultation with an experienced specialist.
Degenerative arthritis can be slowed and its symptoms eased through day-to-day management.
For knee joint health, Director Kang, Seung-Baik set out five rules: maintaining an appropriate body weight and managing eating habits, exercising regularly, avoiding postures that are bad for the joints, giving up smoking and alcohol, and managing the condition early with compresses when pain appears.
For knee joint health it is best to manage your weight and avoid postures that put strain on particular areas, such as squatting, sitting cross-legged and crossing the legs. Using a chair or sofa instead of sitting on the floor, so as to reduce how far the knee bends, also helps.
Avoiding excessive caffeine and salt intake and keeping to a balanced diet are recommended. It is also best to avoid smoking and heavy drinking.
Exercise matters too. Strengthening the muscles around the joint reduces the load on it and helps maintain function. About 30 minutes a day of light walking on level ground, stretching, swimming or riding a stationary bicycle can help strengthen the muscles around the joint and prevent stiffness. Quadriceps strengthening exercises are also regarded as effective for protecting the knee joint and building lower-body strength.
Excessive exercise that brings on pain or swelling should be avoided, however. Going up and down stairs and lifting heavy objects while squatting can place a burden on the knee, so care is needed.
When the joint feels stiff or painful during exercise, a hot or cold compress can ease the symptoms. If pain persists after exercise or the swelling does not go down, you should see a specialist.
Director Kang, Seung-Baik said, "Knee joint health is an important factor that goes beyond whether you have pain and is directly linked to healthy life expectancy in later years," adding, "Women aged 65 and over in particular should watch carefully for warning signs such as knee pain, swelling or discomfort when walking, and get an accurate diagnosis and treatment early, so that healthy joint function can be maintained for a long time."