Sports Medicine

Knee Arthritis

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Diagnosis

Your doctor will likely ask when you noticed your knee pain, how it feels and whether you've have any previous injuries. He or she also may ask about your physical and athletic habits and goals, which may help determine the best treatment for your situation.

Your doctor may begin with a physical examination that includes feeling around the painful area and testing ligament and tendon strength.

Other tests that are helpful include:

• X-ray -- These may be taken from several angles, usually provide a good way to diagnose arthritis and are particularly useful for assessing joint space narrowing that indicates early wear of the cartilage.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -- This type of scan can help your doctor visualize the inside of your joints and bones. Although this is not all that helpful in diagnosing osteoarthritis, it often is ordered to look for other conditions like a meniscus tear or ligament damage that may occur with arthritis.

• Blood Tests -- Although less commonly used, blood tests may be order to rule out other diseases. Your doctor may use a small needle to remove a sample of fluid from your knee, which will be sent to the lab for analysis. Results usually are available within 48 hours.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007