What helps knee arthritis pain?  It depends on how long the knee present has been present…

For those with 4 to 12 weeks of knee pain, beneficial interventions are

• tai chi,
• home-based exercise (physical therapy can help get you started),
• transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (a TENS unit), and
• self-management programs like strength, agility, and pain-coping skills.

For those with 12 to 16 weeks of knee pain,

• platelet-rich plasma injections (of which most insurances do not pay and this is a cash-pay treatment) and
• home-based or self-management skills (as above) may help.
• Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements may have medium-term, but no known long-term benefits.

For those with pain for more than 26 weeks, beneficial interventions include

• agility training,
• exercise programs,
• self-massage,
• acupressure, and
• weight loss.
•