Why Does Knee Swelling Occur in Osteoarthritis?

What exercises can help treat that swelling? Which supplements and foods are beneficial, regenerative medicine treatments that can be useful, and what treatments to avoid long term if you have knee swelling?

In general, arthritis in the knee can be classified as inflammatory arthritis or degenerative arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis involves your immune system attacking the joints, causing swelling. This is a condition of total body inflammation. On the other hand, degenerative arthritis is due to instability in the joint, leading to stress, friction, and damage to the cartilage, which also causes swelling.

Even in wear-and-tear arthritis, there are mild elevations of certain inflammatory cytokines, leading to mild inflammation and swelling. Instability, where the ligament becomes overstretched, also contributes to swelling over time. Additionally, your metabolic health, including blood sugar control and overall inflammation, plays a significant role in joint swelling.

Conservative Treatments for Knee Swelling

There are several conservative approaches to managing knee swelling:

• Exercises: Strengthening the muscles around the arthritic and painful joint can help stabilize it, reducing stress and inflammation. Focus on strengthening both leg and hip muscles. Avoid high-impact exercises if they cause pain and swelling.
• Swimming: A low-impact activity that provides a great cardiovascular workout and strengthens muscles without putting stress on the knees.

Supplements and Foods for Knee Swelling

• Supplements: Omega-3 (from fish or flaxseed oil) and curcumin (turmeric) are recommended for their anti-inflammatory properties and effectiveness in reducing pain and swelling in osteoarthritis.
• Diet: Maintaining an ideal weight is crucial as excess weight puts more stress on the knees. Follow a Mediterranean diet, focusing on legumes, vegetables, lean proteins, and avoiding high-carbohydrate and highly processed foods to reduce inflammation.

Regenerative Medicine Treatments

Regenerative medicine offers several treatments to address stability and inflammation:

• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Prolotherapy: These treatments strengthen ligaments and improve joint stability.
• Platelet Lysate: Less inflammatory than PRP, it provides growth factors that help with chronic inflammation.
• Anti-inflammatory Chemicals: Alpha-2 macroglobulin and interleukin receptor antagonist protein can also help with chronic swelling and pain.
• Bone Marrow Concentrate Stem Cells: These contain high levels of anti-inflammatory proteins and help treat chronic inflammation and swelling.

Treatments to Avoid Long Term

Be cautious with long-term use of anti-inflammatory medications and steroids (injections or oral). These are meant for short-term relief and do not address the underlying metabolic or instability issues. Chronic use can have adverse side effects and does not provide a long-term solution.

Conclusion

Knee swelling in osteoarthritis is common and results from both instability and inflammation. Conservative treatments, supplements, proper diet, and regenerative medicine can help manage these issues. Avoid chronic use of anti-inflammatory medications and steroids to prevent long-term harm.