Up to six million people in Britain alone suffer from knee osteoarthritis. Now 200 patients, over the age of 55, are to take part in a study led by research physiotherapist Michelle Hall at the University of Nottingham.

Hall, lecturer in physiotherapy education, said: 'It has been shown that people who have inflammation may develop more severe and progressive osteoarthritis and experience greater pain and disability.'

'The ability to detect the presence of inflammation using ultrasound could therefore be important in terms of prognosis and selection of certain treatments,' said Hall.