Condition: Arthritis of the Knee

There are a few different types of arthritis that can affect the knee. The most common is osteoarthritis (OA), which is a progressive condition that slowly wears away the cartilage in your joint. In a healthy knee, movement is generally pain-free because the joint has ample cartilage to reduce friction and act as a shock absorber for your steps. With arthritis, the cartilage becomes damaged and deteriorates, which can cause symptoms like painful movement, swelling, grinding, and joint locking or catching.