GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybilus, Vigovi) and terzeptide (Monjaro, Zipbound), are having effects that transcend shedding kilos and controlling diabetes. For one, they could allow individuals with knee osteoarthritis to avoid or delay knee alternative surgery. It was a seek for one study Published online June 2, 2026, by Regional Anesthesia and Analgesia.
Previous studies have found that using these medications might help relieve knee pain attributable to arthritis, because shedding weight takes more stress off the knees. For this study, researchers desired to know if individuals with knee osteoarthritis who took these drugs were less prone to undergo knee alternative surgery. Drawing on a big health database, they identified tens of hundreds of adults with knee osteoarthritis, a few of whom had taken GLP-1 drugs and others who had not. Some of them took one among the older GLP-1 drugs, resembling liraglutide (Sexanda, Victoza), dolaglutide (Trulicity), exenatide (Byeta), or lexinatide (Adalexin). Others used newer drugs, resembling semaglutide or tirzeptide.
When the researchers compared those that took GLP-1 medication to those that didn’t, use of any GLP-1 medication for one or three years was related to a lower likelihood of total knee alternative. The biggest reduction was in those that took semaglutide or terzeptide for 3 years. This group had about 5% fewer knee replacements over eight years.
Lower body weight means less stress on the knee joints, which can account for at the least among the difference. However, it seems that GLP-1 drugs could have other helpful effects on the joints, resembling anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. It is under study.
Meanwhile, for people who find themselves obese or obese, weight reduction—whether through eating regimen, exercise, medication, or bariatric surgery—has been shown to assist relieve symptoms of persistent knee osteoarthritis.
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