Low-Dose Radiation May Slow Knee Osteoarthritis, Study Finds

BOSTON, September 27, 2026 - Low-dose radiation therapy may do more than relieve pain from early knee osteoarthritis, with a long-term analysis suggesting it could also influence how the disease progresses. The findings come from a new integrated analysis of a randomized trial conducted in Russia that followed nearly 300 patients for almost 12 years.

Patients who received low-dose radiation therapy had more sustained improvements in pain, physical function and quality of life than those who received medication alone, and MRI scans showed significantly less structural deterioration inside the knee. Across the study population, low-dose radiation therapy was associated with a 67% lower adjusted hazard of government-certified disability due to knee osteoarthritis. The largest apparent benefit was seen among patients with grade 2 disease, where osteoarthritis was established but not yet advanced. Results will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting .