The Most Effective Treatment for Osteoarthritis Isn’t a Pill or Surgery

Exercise is the most effective and underused treatment for osteoarthritis, protecting joints while improving overall health.

The most effective treatment does not come from medication or surgery. It comes from movement. Despite this, health systems in many countries still fail to steer patients toward exercise, even though it is proven to protect joints and reduce pain.

Exercise is among the strongest treatments available for long-term, disabling joint conditions such as osteoarthritis. Even so, only a small proportion of patients are actually prescribed or supported to use it.

Studies examining healthcare in Ireland, the UK, Norway, and the United States reveal a consistent pattern. Fewer than half of people with osteoarthritis are referred to exercise programs or physiotherapy by their primary care clinician. More than 60% receive treatments that clinical guidelines advise against, and roughly 40% are referred for surgical consultation before non-surgical options have been properly explored.

What are your knees telling you?