How to Get Rid of Fluid in the Knee and Reduce Swelling
Health ConditionsOrthopedic Conditions

How to Get Rid of Fluid Around the Knee

Here’s why fluid sometimes builds up in the knee, plus the various treatments available to help you recover.
How to Get Rid of Fluid Around the Knee
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By
Kathleen Ferraro
Updated on August 6, 2025
by

Some amount of fluid around your knee is necessary — it helps cushion your bones and keeps the joint limber. But if too much fluid accumulates, it can lead to an effusion (or an abnormal collection of fluid between tissues of the body) that can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Here’s everything you need to know about fluid in the knee, including why it builds up and what to do about it.

What Is a Knee Effusion?

A knee effusion occurs when the joint swells with more fluid than is normal.

 This can cause symptoms such as:
  • Pain
  • Trouble moving the joint
  • Fever
  • A feeling of heaviness in the joint
  • Redness
  • Stiffness
  • Warm skin

What Causes Fluid Buildup in the Knees?

There are a number of reasons you can develop fluid in your knee. The most common causes are:

  • Infection
  • Inflammation, often from conditions like arthritis or gout
  • Overuse
  • Injury
  • A tumor in the area

Is Fluid in the Knee Serious?

The seriousness of the fluid buildup depends on the cause of the effusion. You should visit your doctor if you experience severe pain, an obvious injury, or experience any of the following issues:

  • Fever
  • Inability to move your joint
  • Inability to bear weight on your joint
  • Loss of feeling in your joint

If you have a chronic underlying condition like arthritis or gout, you might not be able to get rid of effusions for good. Fortunately, though, there are treatments to help ease or prevent excess fluid in the knee if you regularly deal with this issue (more on that later).

How Do You Get Rid of Fluid in the Knee?

The best treatment for an effusion depends on the cause. Here are some of the most common solutions:

Rest and Elevate

One of the main ways to reduce fluid in the knee joint is to rest, especially if the cause of the effusion is overuse or injury. That means holding off on activities and perhaps even using support while you walk, such as a cane or crutches.

While you’re resting, elevate your leg to further reduce knee swelling. Elevating your knee above the level of your heart, preferably with the knee straight, can help fluid drain from the joint.

Apply Ice

Applying ice or a cold compress to your knee may help reduce pain and fluid buildup, particularly if you have an injury or arthritis.

 When using ice or freezer packs, don’t place them directly on the skin — instead, wrap them in a towel before placing them on your knee.

Wear a Knee Brace

In some cases, a knee brace can help stabilize and heal your joint. For instance, if you have an effusion due to a ligament injury, you may benefit from a wrap.

Talk to your doctor before trying a brace or wrap, though, to make sure it’s the right approach to reducing fluid in your knee.

Consider Over-the-Counter Medications

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) may also help relieve the pain in your knee, especially if it’s the result of an injury or arthritis.

 If over-the-counter medications are ineffective, ask your doctor about prescription medications.
If your knee effusion is due to rheumatoid arthritis or gout, your doctor may prescribe medicine specific to those conditions. Similarly, an effusion caused by septic arthritis or an infection may require antibiotics.

Drain the Fluid

In certain cases, your doctor may recommend removing the excess fluid in your knee by inserting a needle into the joint (a procedure called arthrocentesis). This can help reduce swelling and may also help determine the cause of the effusion, as your doctor will likely send a sample of the fluid to the lab for analysis.

Try Healing Exercises

Another potential method for getting rid of fluid in your knee is through physical therapy exercises.

 Your doctor may recommend this treatment if your effusion is the result of an injury and you need to rebuild strength and mobility in the area.

The exercise you do ultimately depends on the type of injury you have. Talk to your physical therapist to get a customized set of knee exercises.

Massage Your Knee

Massage can be an effective way to relieve pain and inflammation from osteoarthritis-related knee trouble.

How to massage fluid out of your knee depends on the severity and cause of the effusion, so follow your doctor or physical therapist’s instructions for the best, safest technique.

The Takeaway

  • Excess fluid in the knee joint causes pain, swelling, and stiffness, and can stem from various causes, such as injury, overuse, infection, or underlying conditions like arthritis.
  • For mild cases, rest, elevation, and cold therapy can help. However, severe pain, an inability to move or bear weight, or a fever warrant immediate medical attention.
  • Solutions range from medication and physical therapy to braces or fluid drainage, depending on the root cause of the effusion. It is important to see a doctor to get a diagnosis and instructions for proper care.

Common Questions & Answers

Is walking good for fluid in the knee?

In general, no. Typically, rest is best when it comes to healing a joint effusion, so try to avoid overusing or putting weight on the affected knee.

Short answer: No, it is not safe to try draining fluid from the knee yourself. That’s because using unsterilized or dirty needles can potentially transmit infections. A joint arthrocentesis should only be performed by a medical professional.

What happens to your knee depends on the underlying cause of the effusion. But in general, neglecting to rest and properly treat your joint likely won’t contribute to any healing.

Whether the cause of your pain is an injury, arthritis, or something else, it’s crucial that you address the root issue in order to ease your symptoms.

It can be tricky to tell if your knee pain or swelling is the result of an effusion or something else, as many knee issues cause similar symptoms. The best way to determine the cause of your discomfort (and how to treat it) is to visit your doctor.

In some cases, fluid in the knee does go away by itself. For instance, if the cause of the effusion is temporary — like an injury — then the fluid should subside once you’ve healed. How long that takes depends on the severity of your injury. But if you have an underlying disease that contributes to the effusion, then you may not be able to eliminate your symptoms entirely.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Joint Effusion (Swollen Joint). Cleveland Clinic. October 12, 2021.
  2. Swollen Knee. Mayo Clinic. June 16, 2022.
  3. Gerena LA et al. Knee Effusion. StatPearls. February 26, 2024.
  4. Qin S et al. Effectiveness and Safety of Massage for Knee Osteoarthritis. Medicine. October 30, 2020.
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Scott Haak, PT, DPT, MTC, CSCS

Medical Reviewer

Scott Haak, PT, DPT, has been a member of the Mayo Clinic staff since 2000. Dr. Haak serves as faculty for the Sports Medicine Fellowship program at Mayo Clinic Florida. He is certified by the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) as a CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), is a Certified USA Weightlifting Coach and Certified USA Football Coach, and possesses a MTC (Manual Therapy Certification) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Haak is an exercise enthusiast and enjoys running, weightlifting, and sports performance training. He is the president and director of coaching of a youth tackle football organization, JDL Providence Football, and currently coaches high school football and weight lifting.

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Kathleen Ferraro

Author
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