Observatory
Osteoarthritis Observatory
Rigorous and understandable information about osteoarthritis, treatments, exercise and scientific evidence.
The evidence on osteoarthritis, explained clearly.
Search
Joint sites
Explore by joint
Each joint has its own mechanics, evolution and evidence base.
Editorial pillar
Knee osteoarthritis: understand before deciding
Information on symptoms, diagnosis, exercise, weight, injections and surgery, separating what is demonstrated from what is uncertain.
Treatments
Treatments under observation
An honest look at what we know — and what we don't — about each intervention.
Hyaluronic acid
Intra-articular use in the knee, efficacy vs placebo and guideline positioning.
Heterogeneous evidence
Platelet-rich plasma
Variable protocols and results that depend on the comparator.
Emerging evidence
Cell-based products
Promises, regulation and what trials actually show.
Uncertain evidence
Intra-articular corticosteroids
Short-term symptomatic relief and long-term considerations.
Moderate evidence
Supplements
Glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen and others: effect sizes and biases.
Variable evidence
Exercise
Move with knowledge
Exercises organised by joint, objective, functional capacity and clinical profile.
Evidence
How we know whether a treatment works
Clinical trials
Design, randomisation and blinding.
Placebo
Contextual effects and why they matter in osteoarthritis.
Clinical relevance
The gap between statistical significance and a perceivable difference.
Biases
Publication, selection, conflicts and funding.
Clinical guidelines
Positions from OARSI, EULAR, NICE and ACR.
Weight, metabolism and GLP-1
Weight loss and osteoarthritis: a cautious conversation
Weight loss modifies joint load and the systemic inflammatory component. GLP-1 receptor agonists are an active research area; the Observatory describes the available evidence without recommending specific drugs or suggesting tissue regeneration.
Latest reviews
Recent updates
2025-04
Intra-articular injections in the knee
Moderate evidence2025-03
Supervised versus home-based exercise
High evidence2025-02
Hydrolysed collagen: what trials show
Low evidence
Sample cards — demonstrative content.
Editorial principles
How we work
Independence
No hidden sponsorship or commercial agreements tied to published information.
Verifiable references
Every claim is accompanied by its source, with DOI or identifier whenever possible.
Medical review
Content undergoes clinical review before publication.
Explicit uncertainty
We separate what is demonstrated, what is likely, and what is unknown.
Transparent corrections
Substantive changes are logged with date and reason.
Medical editor · —
Editorial coordination and medical review of the Observatory.
Newsletter
Observatory Update
Receive a short selection of editorial updates on osteoarthritis, treatments and evidence. No advertising.