From the remarkable return of a sporting superstar to potential breakthroughs for arthritis and post-surgical pain, 2025 has been a good year for positive news stories about knees. We explored some of the most promising ones on our blog this year, alongside some other tips, advice and recommendations you might find helpful for your own joint health. In case you missed them, here are seven key highlights…
Comeback queen
Five years ago, Lindsey Vonn’s skiing career appeared to be over. After years of niggling knee injuries, the 82-time World Cup winner announced her retirement from the sport. But then, aged 40… she came back. And, even more remarkably, just 10 weeks after a partial knee replacement. How did she do it? Elite-level fitness is one of the answers. But it’s hard to quibble with her decision; this month, Vonn “destroyed the field” to win the San Moritz World Cup. She is now one of the favourites for this year’s Winter Olympics. Truly inspiring.
Read the article: The extraordinary Lindsey Vonn: Pro skiing… after a knee replacement
A “wonder jab” for arthritis
If weight loss drugs seemed to be everywhere in 2025, so did some interesting new medical research into their effectiveness. One headline-grabbing study found osteoarthritis sufferers experienced an average “42-point drop” in their knee pain scores after taking semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic). We looked into why, and the implications for our own patients with ongoing knee pain. While the findings are certainly encouraging, there are some important caveats too.
Read the article: Can weight loss drugs like Wegovy reduce arthritis knee pain?
A revolution in pain relief?
Opioids (such as morphine or tramadol) are often the go-to option for pain relief after major surgery. But they have some drawbacks, including side effects (like nausea) for some patients, addictiveness, and a relatively short impact window (around 12-18 hours). Enter the “ATX-101 wafer”, a new drug that has been undergoing trials in the NHS. Unlike traditional painkillers, ATX-101 uses an anaesthetic (bupivacaine) to deliver pain relief, thanks to a slow-dissolving wafer that the surgeon places inside the knee during the operation. It’s early days for the technology, but it looks very promising.
Read the article: Could a “dissolvable wafer” revolutionise pain relief for knee replacements?
Football’s ACL problem
In May, we examined the concerning rise of ACL injuries in top-tier football (which to some extent has mirrored similar issues in the women’s game). Why is it happening? The answer seems to be a complex mix of factors, from outsoles and playing surfaces to the increasing intensity of football at the highest level. “Soccer is an increasingly athletic sport,” explained Pep Guardiola’s favourite surgeon, Dr Ramon Cugat. “The number of accelerations, decelerations, jumps and contacts increases with each passing season.” Encouragingly, several major studies are now actively seeking solutions to the problem.
Read the article: What’s causing the surge in Premier League ACL injuries?
Middle age matters
If you’re over 50 and experiencing knee issues, you’re not alone. A recent survey discovered nearly half of people aged 50-80 experience joint pain that limits their usual daily activities. After examining the mechanics of ageing on knee pain, we suggested four key things we could all be doing to help avoid it. You won’t be surprised to hear some of them involve exercise! But what types of exercise? Dip into the article to see some recommendations.
Read the article: 4 great ways to protect your knees in middle age
Pool power
Speaking of exercise, have you signed up for that hydrotherapy class yet? Whether you have chronic pain or are waiting for a knee replacement, it’s worth serious consideration. One deep-dive study of recent research – collectively covering 139 trials and nearly 10,000 patient – found hydrotherapy was near the top of the pile when it comes to non-drug therapies for osteoarthritis knee pain. Many of our patients swear by it too. You can find out how hydrotherapy works, and where to book pool sessions, in the link below.
Read the article: Is hydrotherapy good for knee pain?
Movement as medicine
“The most powerful drug on the planet,” is how one Nuffield Health director described the effects of exercise on sore joints. After reviewing the results of their new study – jointly conducted with Manchester Metropolitan University and Frontier Economics – it doesn’t feel like hyperbole. Participants who did three months of free, twice-weekly gym classes experienced on average 35% less pain and a 29% reduction in their GP visits. Time to roll this out on the NHS? Quite possibly. But there’s nothing to stop many of us from reaping the benefits right away. We suggested three key takeaways to focus on.
Read the article: Can just 2 hours of exercise a week transform knee pain?
And finally… a very happy Christmas and new year to all our readers and patients from everyone here at Chris Bailey Orthopaedics! We hope you have a wonderful festive season and a great start to 2026 🎄
