Osteoarthritis clinic
Specialist non-surgical management of knee, hip, and other joint osteoarthritis. The plan is built around what the evidence consistently supports: education, structured exercise, and weight management, with selected injection therapies and surgical pathways where indicated.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease, and it is one of the most treatable. The first-line interventions are education, structured exercise, and weight management. Specialist input adds the diagnostic clarity, the medication and injection options where appropriate, and the surgical conversation when it is time.
What is osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis affects the whole joint, not just the cartilage. Inflammation, bone remodelling, ligament changes, and muscle deconditioning all contribute. The pain and stiffness people feel are not always tightly correlated with what an X-ray shows. Many people with severe imaging changes have minimal symptoms; many with mild imaging changes have substantial pain.
This matters because the goal of treatment is to improve symptoms and function, not to reverse imaging changes.
First-line treatment
For knee, hip, and most other osteoarthritis, the cornerstone is the same: education, structured exercise, and weight management where relevant. The GLA:D programme (Good Life with osteoArthritis: Denmark) is the best-studied structured exercise programme for hip and knee osteoarthritis, and is widely available through physiotherapy and exercise physiology providers on the Sunshine Coast.
- Education: understanding the condition reduces fear and supports better self-management
- Structured exercise: strength, conditioning, and joint-specific work, prescribed and progressed
- Weight management: even modest weight loss meaningfully reduces knee and hip joint loading
These three together are more effective than most pharmacological options for long-term outcome.
Additional treatment options
Medications
Topical NSAIDs are first choice for many joints. Oral NSAIDs are used selectively, considering cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and renal risks. Paracetamol has a smaller role than once thought. Opioids are not recommended for osteoarthritis.
Injection therapies
Cortisone injections can settle inflammation in selected flares. Viscosupplementation may help selected patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis. PRP is an option in selected cases. Injection is not a stand-alone treatment, it sits inside the wider plan. See injection therapies.
Joint protection
Footwear, walking aids, bracing, and activity modification all have a role in selected patients. Recommendations are matched to your specific joint and goals.
When to consider surgery
Joint replacement surgery is appropriate when symptoms are severe and persistent despite a course of non-surgical care, or when function is so limited that quality of life is substantially affected. Specialist input helps clarify when that point has been reached, and which surgeon and procedure are likely to suit you.
Pre-operative optimisation, including conditioning, weight management, and metabolic health, improves outcomes. See working alongside your surgeon.
Common questions
Will exercise wear my joint out faster?
Not necessarily. Joints respond to appropriate load, and progressive exercise can support joint health, the surrounding muscles, and overall function. For most people with osteoarthritis, sensible activity is part of the treatment, not a cause of harm. A specialist can help you find the right type and amount.
Are supplements helpful?
Glucosamine and chondroitin have inconsistent evidence at best. The specialist conversation reviews your individual context, but supplements are not a core part of evidence-based osteoarthritis care.
Should I avoid running?
Most people with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis are encouraged to stay active. We consider the type, timing, and impact level of activity to suit individual needs.
Are stem cell injections offered?
Stem cell and similar regenerative therapies are not currently supported by sufficient evidence for routine osteoarthritis care. They are not offered at this clinic outside of clearly defined research contexts.
