Hyaluronic Acid Injection For Knee Osteoarthritis: Procedure And Risks

Following the Hyaluronic Acid Injection

Doctors advise a period of 12 to 24 hours of rest immediately after viscosupplementation. Resting after the injection helps to reduce injection pain and also decreases the chance of hyaluronic acid from being flushed away from the joint capsule.1Henrotin Y, Raman R, Richette P, et al. Consensus statement on viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid for the management of osteoarthritis. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2015;45(2):140-149. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2015.04.011

During this rest period, patients may perform simple, low-impact activities, like slow, short walks. Running, carrying heavy loads, and performing other high impact activities are generally avoided during this period. The pain-relieving effects of this procedure usually appear by around the fourth week after the injection.2Altman RD, Manjoo A, Fierlinger A, Niazi F, Nicholls M. The mechanism of action for hyaluronic acid treatment in the osteoarthritic knee: a systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015;16:321. Published 2015 Oct 26. doi:10.1186/s12891-015-0775-z,3Cooper C, Rannou F, Richette P, et al. Use of Intraarticular Hyaluronic Acid in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis in Clinical Practice. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017;69(9):1287-1296.,4Trojian TH, Concoff AL, Joy SM, Hatzenbuehler JR, Saulsberry WJ, Coleman CI. AMSSM Scientific Statement Concerning Viscosupplementation Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 2016;26(1):1-11. doi:10.1097/jsm.0000000000000274

Physical therapy A follow-up program including physical therapy and at-home knee exercises such as single leg flutters is usually recommended. These practices help build and maintain muscle strength around the knee joint.

Watch Physical Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis Video

Physical therapy and exercises may also help decrease knee osteoarthritis symptoms and slow down joint degeneration. Patients with severe pain may be prescribed pool therapy, a gentle and effective form of joint strengthening.

See Knee Exercises for Arthritis and Water Therapy for Osteoarthritis

Curcumin Supplements In addition to physical therapy, an oral supplement, such as curcumin, a chemical found naturally in turmeric spice, may be recommended. There is some evidence that taking curcumin supplements may improve the outcome of hyaluronic acid injection treatment for osteoarthritis.5Grover AK, Samson SE. Benefits of antioxidant supplements for knee osteoarthritis: rationale and reality. Nutr J. 2016;15:1. Published 2016 Jan 5. doi:10.1186/s12937-015-0115-z

See Turmeric and Curcumin for Arthritis and Dietary Supplements for Treating Arthritis