Can AI Give You the Right Advice for Knee Osteoarthritis? What Australian Guidelines Say

If you’ve searched online for advice about knee osteoarthritis (OA), you may have come across artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT or DeepSeek. These tools can provide information within seconds, but can you rely on them to tell you what to do about your knee pain?

Adam McKee recently presented an article to us investigating just that. 

A recent study published in The Knee compared ChatGPT-4.0 and DeepSeek-R1 responses about knee osteoarthritis with clinical guideline recommendations. The results provide an important reminder: while AI can be useful for general education, it shouldn’t replace an individual assessment from a healthcare professional. (Wu et al., 2025).

Researchers assessed responses from ChatGPT-4.0 and DeepSeek-R1 across 17 treatment strategies for knee osteoarthritis and compared them with clinical guideline recommendations.

ChatGPT-4.0’s responses were consistent with the relevant guidelines for 59% of the treatment strategies, while DeepSeek-R1 achieved 71% concordance. This means that neither system consistently provided recommendations that aligned with the clinical guidelines used in the study.

The researchers also identified inconsistencies relating to treatments including ozone therapy and arthroscopy. These findings don’t mean that AI is never useful. Rather, they highlight the importance of checking AI-generated medical information against reliable clinical guidance.

In Australia, the Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard (2024) provides a national framework for appropriate care. The Standard is endorsed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), which worked with the ACSQHC to develop a Quick Guide specifically for physiotherapists

The Australian Standard takes a person-centred approach. It recommends a comprehensive assessment that considers your symptoms, medical history, physical function and psychosocial factors rather than relying solely on imaging or a generic treatment recommendation.

It also emphasises physical activity and exercise as important components of knee osteoarthritis management. Exercise should be tailored to your individual needs, preferences, abilities and goals. The Standard reassures people that exercise is safe, including for those with severe knee osteoarthritis, and that exercises can be modified according to symptoms.

Another important difference is the approach to imaging. The Australian Standard states that X-rays, MRI and other scans are not routinely required to diagnose knee osteoarthritis. Imaging may be appropriate when symptoms are unusual or another diagnosis needs to be investigated, but scan findings should be considered alongside clinical and functional assessment.

The Standard also recommends avoiding arthroscopy for uncomplicated knee osteoarthritis and encourages optimal non-surgical management before considering joint replacement surgery.

This is where the difference between an AI-generated answer and a clinical assessment becomes particularly important.

A physiotherapist doesn’t simply provide a list of exercises. They can assess whether your symptoms are consistent with knee osteoarthritis, evaluate your strength and movement, consider factors affecting your pain and function, and develop an exercise and self-management plan around your individual goals.

For some people, that may mean getting back to walking comfortably. For others, it might be returning to the gym, playing sport, managing stairs or delaying the need for surgery.

The Australian approach is clear: your function, goals and individual circumstances matter.

AI can be a convenient way to learn more about knee osteoarthritis, but a confident-sounding answer isn’t necessarily the right answer for your particular knee.

Current Australian clinical guidance supports a person-centred approach based on assessment, exercise, physical activity, self-management and appropriate clinical decision-making.

If knee pain is stopping you from doing the things you enjoy, don’t rely on AI to decide what treatment you need. Book an assessment with our physiotherapy team. We can help you understand your knee pain, develop an evidence-informed exercise program and create a plan to help you move with greater confidence.

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2024). Osteoarthritis of the knee clinical care standard. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/clinical-care-standards/osteoarthritis-knee

Wu, H., Yao, S., Bao, H., & Ma, J. (2025). ChatGPT-4.0 and DeepSeek-R1 does not yet provide clinically supported answers for knee osteoarthritis. The Knee, 56, 386–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knee.2025.06.007