Colorado Spring, Colo. (Sept. 24, 2026) – UCHealth Memorial Hospital is offering low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) that can help ease joint pain from osteoarthritis - especially for people who have not found sufficient relief with physical therapy, medications or injections.

A non-surgical treatment option for osteoarthritis pain

This non-invasive treatment works to calm inflammation in the joints. For many people, it can bring meaningful pain relief that lasts for months or even years.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It often affects the hands, knees, and hips, causing pain, stiffness, and loss of movement.

How low-dose radiation therapy works

Radiation is not a first-line treatment for osteoarthritis, but it can be a helpful option when other approaches have not worked. Low doses of radiation have a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

While many people think of radiation as a cancer treatment, this approach has been used in Europe for decades to treat joint pain, Olsen said. At UCHealth, the therapy uses the same advanced technology as cancer care, delivered at a dose 10 to 20 times lower. Patients are often referred to treatment by their primary care providers.

What patients can expect

• Six 20-minute treatments over three weeks.
• No pain during treatment.
• Little to no side effects.
• No downtime—patients can continue their daily routines.
• Relief is not always immediate, but most notice improvements in a few months.
• About 70% of patients report significant relief.