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Knee Arthritis

Knee Arthritis Care at UVM Health

Knee arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness in your knee. The symptoms of knee arthritis can significantly affect your day-to-day life. You may have difficulty getting out of chairs, climbing stairs or getting into the car.

At University of Vermont Health, we offer comprehensive, personalized knee arthritis treatment. Our clinicians are some of the most experienced in the region, treating hundreds of patients each year. Our orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine doctors, physical therapists and occupational therapists work together to create personalized, effective treatment plans.

A medical provider sits next to a patient who is holding his knees.

Why Choose UVM Health?

Whether you want to get back to your active lifestyle or simply want to participate in your day-to-day activities with less pain, we can help. As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:

  • Advanced imaging: Radiologists with fellowship training in musculoskeletal imaging use high-strength MRIs to evaluate your knee. This technique allows us to obtain higher-quality images, which are crucial for accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans.
  • Expert surgical care: Our care team includes fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons specializing in knee surgery. They offer advanced options for knee replacement procedures, including revision surgery and robotic surgery.
  • Patient-centered approach: Your care team is focused on you and your unique needs. They will spend time with you to learn more about your concerns, goals and treatment preferences to create a personalized care plan. We always start with nonsurgical treatments and recommend surgery only when it’s the most effective option.
  • Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers, many of whom are training the next generation of experts. Our position at the forefront of research into knee care lets us bring you the most up-to-date treatments.

Types of Knee Arthritis

Different underlying causes lead to different types of knee arthritis. Our specialists treat all knee arthritis types, including:

  • Osteoarthritis: The protective, shock-absorbing tissue (cartilage) in your knee wears down over many years. This type of arthritis is most common in people over 50.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis: Your immune system attacks healthy tissues, leading to inflammation in the lining of your knee joint.
  • Post-traumatic arthritis: You develop arthritis after a traumatic injury, sometimes many years later.
  • Psoriatic arthritis: This type of arthritis affects people with psoriasis, a skin condition that occurs as a result of an overactive immune system. You may have periods of knee pain flare-ups followed by periods of no symptoms (remission).

Diagnosing Knee Arthritis

When diagnosing knee arthritis, your specialist will physically examine your knee. They’ll ask about your symptoms, including when they started, how they’ve progressed and what, if anything, relieves them.

They may also use imaging to get a closer look at your bones and soft tissues, including:

  • X-rays: Use low doses of radiation to create an image of your bones
  • MRIs: Use magnets and radio waves to get a close look at your soft tissues

Knee Arthritis Treatment

Our knee specialists offer an entire range of treatments to help you manage arthritis. Many people can manage knee arthritis with nonsurgical treatment, but if your symptoms are severe, a knee replacement can significantly reduce your pain and improve your overall function. Treatment for knee arthritis may include:

Weight Loss for Knee Arthritis

Losing weight can help reduce stress on your knee joint and lessen the symptoms of arthritis. Our team may connect you with a weight loss coach who can help you lose weight safely and sustainably.

Physical Therapy for Knee Arthritis

A physical therapist can teach you exercises that help improve your knee mobility and strength. You may participate in physical therapy as part of nonsurgical treatment, or to help increase your stability and strength after knee replacement surgery.

Bracing for Knee Arthritis

You may need to wear a knee brace or sleeve to increase your stability. A brace can help you shift your weight and improve your knee alignment to improve symptoms.

Injections for Knee Arthritis

Our specialists provide several types of in-office injections to reduce knee arthritis symptoms. You may get a corticosteroid injection to reduce inflammation or a hyaluronic acid injection to relieve pain. Our sports medicine doctors also offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, concentrations of your own blood platelets that can help reduce inflammation and promote healing.

Knee Replacement Surgery

If your arthritis is severe, knee replacement surgery may be the most effective option to relieve your pain. Depending on your needs, you may benefit from a partial or total knee replacement. Our surgeons offer advanced knee replacement options, including complex and robotic-assisted procedures.

Locations Near You

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University of Vermont Medical Center

111 Colchester Ave
Burlington, VT 05401

802-847-0000

Golisano Children's Hospital

111 Colchester Ave
Burlington, VT 05401

802-847-0000

Central Vermont Medical Center

130 Fisher Road
Berlin, VT 05602

802-371-4100

Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital

75 Beekman Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901

518-561-2000

Elizabethtown Community Hospital

75 Park Street
Elizabethtown, NY 12932

518-873-6377

Alice Hyde Medical Center

133 Park Street
Malone, NY 12953

518-483-3000

Porter Medical Center

115 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT 05753

802-388-4701

Home Health & Hospice

1110 Prim Road
Colchester, VT 05446

802-658-1900

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