Osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term condition where your joints can become painful and stiff. This can limit your movement and ability to do things.
Osteoarthritis can affect one or more of your joints. The joints most often affected are your:
The whole joint and surrounding structures can be affected by osteoarthritis. This includes:
Osteoarthritis is a chronic (long-term) condition where the joints in your body become inflamed and damaged, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced movement.
Osteoarthritis is very common. It can develop at any age, but becomes more common as you get older. It's more common in females than males.
Osteoarthritis is not the same as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, which are both autoimmune conditions.
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis in the affected joints are:
Osteoarthritis can feel like a dull pain, but joint pain may get worse with activity and feel better with rest.
Symptoms may get worse slowly over time. Sometimes symptoms get worse suddenly. As it gets worse, the pain can happen even when you are resting.
Other symptoms can include:
Depending on which joints are affected, osteoarthritis can make it harder for you to:
The exact cause of osteoarthritis is not known. It is a complex disorder with many contributing factors.
Your risk of developing osteoarthritis increases as you get older. Other factors that increase your risk are:
Speak to your doctor if you have:
See your doctor if these symptoms impact your daily life or last for more than a few days.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine you to work out if you might have osteoarthritis. They can look at your range of motion and check signs of tenderness.
Tests are not usually needed to diagnose osteoarthritis. Your doctor might arrange tests if it's not clear what type of arthritis you have. Your doctor may refer you for an x-ray of the painful joint or joints.
There is no cure for osteoarthritis. But many people can manage their symptoms well.
Treating joint pain and stiffness can help you manage your daily activities.
Healthcare professionals who can help with osteoarthritis include:
The type of treatment recommended for you will depend on your symptoms and which joint or joints are affected. Your healthcare professional will be able to help you navigate this.
Regular exercise is important for people with osteoarthritis. It keeps your joints and muscles healthy and flexible and can help reduce pain.
People with, or at risk of, osteoarthritis may benefit from different types of exercise:
It's a good idea to choose low impact activities that don't put a lot of stress on your joints.
Choose activities that you enjoy and are convenient for you to do. Talk to your physiotherapist or an exercise physiologist about how to start an exercise program that is right for you.
There is no diet that will cure osteoarthritis. A nutritious and balanced diet helps to keep you healthy and maintain strong muscles and bones.
Extra body weight increases stress on many joints — especially your knees, hips and lower back. If you live with overweight or obesity, losing weight can help reduce pain and limit further damage to your joints.
Walking sticks can help to reduce the load on your hips and knees. This can reduce pain when you are moving about.
Sometimes people with knee osteoarthritis try:
The evidence is not clear on whether these help for osteoarthritis.
Ask your physiotherapist or an occupational therapist for advice about using aids or supports.
It can help to learn how your osteoarthritis pain works and how you respond to it. A psychologist may be able to help you manage pain with cognitive behaviour therapy.
You can also try acupuncture for pain relief. If you are planning on having acupuncture, it's important to talk about this with your doctor.
Pain-relief medicines can include:
Check with your doctor if these medicines are suitable for you and your type of osteoarthritis.
NSAIDs have potential side effects, such as:
An injection of corticosteroid medicine into a painful joint can give you pain relief for a few weeks, depending on which joint is affected. This relief is only for a short period of time, and there is a limit to how many injections you can have.
If your symptoms affect your daily activities and can't be managed in other ways, your doctor may refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon.
There are several different types of surgery for osteoarthritis. Joint replacement surgery may be recommended for some people.
Complications of osteoarthritis can include:
As osteoarthritis is a long-term condition, you may feel anxious, frustrated or upset about how it affects your life. Talk with a friend, your doctor or a psychologist if you need help and support.
You can help reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis:
Talk to your doctor or physiotherapist about how you can adjust your usual activities so they don't worsen your osteoarthritis.
For more information on osteoarthritis:
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For the management of osteoarthritis, Moving with Arthritis (Opens in new tab) is a program to help people with joint pain to exercise in an appropriate manner.
The Arthritis Australia website has information sheets in languages other than English (Opens in new tab).
If you need an interpreter, ask your doctor or call the Translating and Interpreting Service (Opens in new tab) (TIS National) on 131 450.
Arthritis Australia has a program called Stay Moving Stay Strong (Opens in new tab) with resources about arthritis.
Find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) (Opens in new tab) or affiliate near you.
Find out how we develop and review our content.
Last reviewed: February 2026
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