Managing knee osteoarthritis (OA) often involves exploring treatments that can relieve pain and improve your quality of life. In 2025, there’s a growing interest in non-surgical knee pain relief, supported by updated guidance from bodies such as NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and the CSP (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy). One treatment gaining significant attention is the hyaluronic acid knee injection.
For those living with knee pain in West London, understanding your options is the first step towards better mobility. At W5Physio, we offer advanced injection therapy for knee pain, providing a path for those seeking alternatives to long-term medication or surgery. This post explains what you need to know about this effective treatment.
What is Hyaluronic Acid and How Does it Work?
Hyaluronic acid is a substance your body naturally produces. It is a key component of the synovial fluid that lubricates and cushions your joints, including your knees. In individuals with osteoarthritis, the concentration and quality of this natural hyaluronic acid can decrease. This reduction leads to less lubrication, causing increased friction, stiffness, and pain in the joint.
A hyaluronic acid injection for knee arthritis aims to supplement this depleted fluid. By injecting a gel-like solution directly into the knee joint, the treatment may help restore the cushioning and lubricating properties of the synovial fluid. This can lead to reduced pain, less stiffness, and smoother joint movement. Evidence from sources such as Cochrane reviews suggests that this approach may improve symptoms for many individuals with knee OA.
Steroid vs. Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Key Differences
When considering injection therapy, patients often ask about the differences between steroid and hyaluronic acid injections. Both are valid treatments, but they work differently and are suited for different goals.
Corticosteroid Injections:
- Primary Function: Steroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. They work by reducing inflammation within the knee joint, which can provide rapid and significant pain relief.
- Duration: The effects are often quick to appear but may be shorter-lived, typically lasting from a few weeks to a few months.
- Best For: Managing acute flare-ups of pain and inflammation.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections:
- Primary Function: Known as viscosupplementation, this treatment focuses on improving joint mechanics. It acts more like a lubricant and shock absorber than an anti-inflammatory medication.
- Duration: The relief from a hyaluronic acid knee injection is often more gradual, building over several weeks, but it can last much longer – sometimes for six months or more.
- Best For: Longer-term symptom management and for those looking for alternatives to steroid injections for arthritis.
The choice between the two depends on your specific symptoms, the severity of your arthritis, and your treatment history.
Your Ultrasound-Guided Injection for Arthritis: What to Expect
Precision is crucial for the success of any joint injection. That’s why at W5Physio, we perform every procedure using ultrasound guidance. An ultrasound-guided injection for arthritis ensures the hyaluronic acid is delivered exactly where it’s needed within the knee joint, maximising its potential effectiveness and safety.
Your appointment will typically follow these steps:
- Consultation and Assessment: Your physiotherapist will discuss your symptoms, review your medical history, and carry out a physical examination of your knee. They may also use diagnostic ultrasound to assess the joint.
- Preparation: You will be positioned comfortably, and the skin around your knee will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection.
- Ultrasound Guidance: The clinician will use an ultrasound probe to visualise the inside of your knee joint in real time. This allows them to identify the optimal spot for the injection, avoiding sensitive structures such as nerves and blood vessels.
- The Injection: A local anaesthetic is often used to numb the area. The hyaluronic acid is then carefully injected into the joint space while being monitored on the ultrasound screen. The entire process is usually quick, taking only a few minutes.
Who May Benefit From This Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment in Ealing?
A hyaluronic acid injection could be a beneficial option for a wide range of individuals, but it’s not suitable for everyone.
This treatment may be a good choice if you:
- Have mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.
- Experience persistent knee pain that has not responded well to other conservative treatments such as physiotherapy, exercise, or pain medication.
- Are seeking non-surgical knee pain relief.
- Want to delay or avoid knee replacement surgery.
- Are looking for longer-term relief than what steroid injections typically provide.
This treatment may not be recommended if you:
- Have very advanced or “bone-on-bone” arthritis.
- Have an active infection in or around your knee.
- Have a known allergy to hyaluronic acid products.
Our specialists will carry out a thorough assessment to determine if this is the right course of arthritis pain management injections for you.
Aftercare and Rehabilitation Steps
To get the most out of your treatment, proper aftercare and rehabilitation are essential. Immediately following the injection, you can typically go home and resume light activities.
Immediate Aftercare (First 48 Hours):
- Rest the Joint: Avoid high-impact activities such as running, jumping, or heavy lifting for at least two days.
- Monitor for Reactions: Some people experience a temporary, mild reaction with pain or swelling at the injection site. This usually settles on its own. Applying ice can help.
- Gentle Movement: Light walking and gentle range-of-movement exercises are encouraged to help distribute the fluid within the joint.
Rehabilitation:
A hyaluronic acid injection is not a standalone cure; it is a tool to facilitate more effective rehabilitation. The pain relief it provides creates a window of opportunity to engage in physiotherapy and strengthening exercises that were previously too painful. A tailored exercise programme will help you build strength in the muscles supporting your knee, improve flexibility, and enhance your overall function.
Book Your Hyaluronic Acid Knee Injection in Ealing
Living with knee pain can be a daily challenge, but effective treatments are available close to home. If you are exploring knee arthritis injection therapy in West London, our team at W5Physio is here to help. We combine clinical expertise with advanced ultrasound guidance to provide safe and precise treatments tailored to your needs.
Take the next step towards managing your knee pain. Contact us today to learn more or to book a consultation for an ultrasound-guided hyaluronic acid injection in Ealing.
