Since the release of the first Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard in 2017, evidence has continued to emerge on the benefits and harms of osteoarthritis treatments and we now have a better picture of what constitutes ‘low-value care’.
The landscape of clinical care has also advanced, with the focus firmly on patient-centred, inclusive and culturally safe care.
To address these issues, the Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard was revised and the update launched in August 2024 by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The Standard has been endorsed by the APA and can be accessed via the ACSQHC’s website. 

As well as considering new evidence and expanded priorities for reducing low-value care, the revised Clinical Care Standard incorporates practical advice to support effective clinician–consumer communication and promote cultural safety.

It also fosters equity so that people with knee osteoarthritis receive consistent care, regardless of where they live or whether they are accessing care via public or private providers.

To assist physiotherapists in implementing the Standard, the APA collaborated with the ACSQHC to develop a Quick Guide for Physiotherapists. For more information about the Standard, read the InMotion article by Samantha Bunzli and Ilana Ackerman APAM.

Download the guide:

The Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) has summarised the key messages from the Standard and produced a series of quality statement infographics. Click an image below to access a printable A3 pdf.