Many general practices to promote good health can help prevent knee injury and pain. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces stress on the knees and lessens wear and tear on the joints. Avoiding obesity reduces the risk of needing a knee replacement later in life.

Proper warm-up and stretching before exercise or athletic activity can protect the knees. Exercises that strengthen muscles around the knee can help prevent knee injury. Also, exercises to increase the mobility of the knee are helpful.

Any changes to exercise programs or sports activities should be undertaken gradually, without sudden increases in activity. Exercise programs should also allow recovery time, with at least one day of rest between days of repetitive muscle exercise.

Good foot health will also help protect the knees. Properly fitting shoes support the feet and ankles and maintain the body’s alignment. Some knee problems caused by flat or overpronated feet (feet that turn inward) can be avoided by using commercially available shoe inserts or special inserts called orthotics.

In recent years, some people with osteoarthritis have used supplements of glucosamine and chondroitin to alleviate pain and potentially slow deterioration of cartilage. The use of such supplements is not regulated, and their efficacy has not been proven. A clinical study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health found these supplements may help relieve moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis, but in many cases they provided no more relief than a placebo (sugar pill).