There are no specific lab tests to diagnose knee arthritis. Doctors usually look for symptoms like pain in the knee joints, inflammation and swelling, stiffness of knee joints, difficulty in walking, bony swelling and creaking of joints etc. These signs alert the doctor to knee osteoarthritis. Doctors also assess a person’s family history and lifestyle to determine the risk factors for knee osteoarthritis.

 For instance, a person with a family history of the condition or someone involved in active sports like football are more at risk of developing this condition. Sometimes, they may prescribe a blood test to rule out other forms of arthritis. An X-ray is the best diagnostic tool to help identify knee osteoarthritis. An X-ray of a person with knee osteoarthritis will show a gap between the bones of the knee. This gap is formed due to thinning out of the articular cartilage.

The bone structure also appears different from normal. Bones seem to grow outwards and develop spurs. These characteristics can be clearly seen on an X-ray. Sometimes, doctors may recommend an MRI scan to view fine details like cartilage, tendons, muscles etc. An arthroscopic knee surgery which involves inserting video and surgical instruments through an incision in the knee can also help doctors view the extent of damage.