What LDRT is, what treatment looks like, typical schedules, and who may want to ask about it
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and it's the specific condition low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) is used to treat. LDRT is an outpatient treatment that directs a very small amount of radiation at an arthritic joint. The idea is to calm inflammation in the joint lining, which is a main source of pain in osteoarthritis. The dose is far lower than anything used for cancer treatment. Each session takes only a few minutes. There is no hospital stay, and patients go home the same day.
How it's thought to help: osteoarthritis causes ongoing inflammation in the joint, which makes pain and swelling worse over time. Low-dose radiation seems to calm that inflammation, rather than repair damaged cartilage. The strongest evidence involves patients with mild-to-moderate joint damage rather than advanced, severe damage.
It isn't new. LDRT has been used for decades in parts of Europe, and a growing number of US radiation oncology programs now offer it for osteoarthritis.
People with ongoing pain from osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis), especially in the knee, hip, hand, ankle, shoulder, or foot, who haven't found enough relief from medication, injections, or physical therapy.
LDRT is used for osteoarthritis, not every type of arthritis. It isn't recommended for rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, so patients with autoimmune arthritis should talk to their rheumatologist first.
This diagram shows the basic idea. The patient lies on a treatment couch, the joint is positioned in line with the beam, and the linear accelerator delivers a brief, low-dose treatment.
LDRT programs often use a total dose of about 3.0 Gy, split into 6 short treatments of 0.5 Gy per treatment. Treatments are commonly given 2 to 3 times per week, so the full course usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks.
Schedules vary by hospital and physician. Some programs consider a second course if symptoms come back or do not fully improve.
For osteoarthritis, a common schedule is 0.5 Gy per session over 6 sessions, totaling 3 Gy. Cancer radiation is typically far higher, often 40 to 80 Gy depending on the cancer type.
These ranges are approximate. Ask your radiation oncologist about the specific dose and what to expect for your situation.
A full walkthrough of what each visit actually involves.
LDRT is the non-surgical option with the most direct trial evidence for the knee.
How the evidence and dosing approach for LDRT apply to the hip.
Using LDRT for finger and thumb-base joints.
What the trials actually show, positive and mixed.
What's reported, and the cancer-risk question answered.
What programs generally look for in a patient.
What Medicare and commercial plans typically cover.
How LDRT compares when cortisone injections wear off.
How LDRT compares to a major surgical procedure.
What the American Radium Society's 2026 guideline concludes about LDRT.
For education only. LDRT is not right for every patient. Talk with your doctor about whether it makes sense for your situation.