Having an x-ray to diagnose knee arthritis might make you more likely to consider potentially unnecessary surgery
- Written by Belinda Lawford, Senior Research Fellow in Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability, affecting more than two million Australians.
Routine x-rays aren’t recommended to diagnose the condition. Instead, GPs can make a diagnosis based on symptoms and medical history.
Yet nearly half of new patients with knee osteoarthritis who visit a GP in...