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Monovisc®

Longer lasting, and optimsied specifically for your joint health

If joint pain is starting to limit your routine, exercise, or confidence in day-to-day movement, treatments like Monovisc can help.

Monovisc is a hyaluronic acid injection used to manage osteoarthritis pain in the ankle, knee, hip, and shoulder. It aims to reduce pain and stiffness, support smoother joint movement, and help you stay active for longer, protecting your overall joint health.

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Monovisc®

Longer lasting, and optimsied specifically for your joint health

If joint pain is starting to limit your routine, exercise, or confidence in day-to-day movement, treatments like Monovisc. An effective injection treatment for Ankle, Knee, Hip and Shoulder joint pain arthritis.

FInd a clinic

What is Monovisc®?

Monovisc is a single-injection hyaluronic acid treatment used to manage pain from osteoarthritis. The hyaluronic acid (HA) is injected directly into the joint, and is a substance naturally found in healthy joints. In arthritis, the quality of this joint fluid can reduce over time, contributing to stiffness, pain, and reduced movement.

Monovisc is designed to restore lubrication and cushioning within the joint, helping many people move more comfortably for several months after treatment. Where it differs to other injections is the optimised weight of the actual HA molecules, allowing it to stimulate the joint’s own response to produce natural hyaluronic acid, promoting synovial health. 

Monovisc may be used in the ankle, knee, hip, or shoulder, depending on symptoms and clinical assessment.

Shoulder Joint

96% Positive response 

Hip Joint

80% Positive response

Knee Joint

85% Positive response

Ankle Joint

84% Positive response

How does it work?

Expectations and outcomes – effective in multiple joints

Monovisc is targeted to improve the functional properties of the fluid inside your joint, called synovial fluid. This promotes mechanical, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and cartilage-protective effects. This means, not only for pain, but also to support stiff joints to move more freely and protect against further joint deterioration. 

Joint injections can be scary but are a very common procedure.

Monovisc works by supplementing the optimsied hyaluronic acid directly into the joint, improving lubrication and shock absorption. This can reduce friction within the joint, ease stiffness, and support smoother movement.

Improvement is often gradual over the first few weeks, with benefits that can last for several months. Outcomes vary depending on the joint treated, activity levels, and the stage of arthritis, but clinical studies show a sustained pain reduction through 6 months. 

Monovisc can be safely repeated as needed and is extremely compatible with the joint’s natural fluids and soft tissues.

inject pic

You can read more about the joint injection procedure itself here – Joint Injections

Monovisc has been trusted over 3 million times worldwide

Monovisc is formulated to mimic the properties of your own native HA, while also stimulating the production of natural HA into the joint (ref 7). In human joints, native HA is present in the cartilage, extracellular matrix, and synovial fluid.

Monovisc has extensive study data

In recent clinical studies, 92.4% of patients with knee arthritis pain treated with Monovisc responded positively in the areas of pain, stiffness, and physical function at 39 weeks.

People respond differently to injection treatments, but UK clinicians also note many patients have:

→ Reduced pain and stiffness over the first few weeks
→ Improved comfort with walking and daily activities
→ Relief that can last for several months from a single injection

Your clinician will discuss what is realistic for you based on the joint being treated and your individual symptoms.

All data gathered from various human studies specifically for Monovisc, all data on file, references at the bottom of the page.

Decades of knowledge and technological know how

Monovisc has been developed by some of the leading hyaluronic acid researchers worldwide

Synovial Health

Monovisc targets the improvement of the overall properties of synovial fluid, thereby promoting mechanical, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and cartilage-protective effects, which all help to create a healthier joint environment. (7,8)

Cushioning and Protection

The viscous HA/Monovisc injection provides lubrication, shock absorption and cartilage protection. It binds well to water, producing a viscous, jelly-like consistency that helps in an OA joint where the joint surface becomes roughened and painful. (1-8)

Cushioning and Protection

The viscous HA/Monovisc injection provides lubrication, shock absorption and chondroprotection. It binds well to water, producing a viscous, jelly-like consistency that helps in an OA joint where the joint surface becomes roughened and painful. 

Working with Mother Nature

No matter what injections are available, there is nothing better than your natural joint health & fluid. Monovisc binds to the cells that produce your joint’s own HA called synoviocytes. This has been proven to stimulate the cells to once again produce the joint’s own HA.(7)

Monovisc FAQ’s and Fast Facts

What is Monovisc

Monovisc is a hyaluronic acid (HA) joint injection, often called a “gel injection”, used to help reduce joint pain and stiffness and improve movement when arthritis symptoms are getting in the way. It’s a single, pre-filled 4ml injection containing 88mg HA.

Which joints can Monovisc be used for?

Monovisc is indicated for the knee, hip, shoulder, and ankle joints. (Clinics may still talk you through what’s appropriate for your joint, based on symptoms, imaging, and examination.)

What is Monovisc used for?

Monovisc is used to help with symptoms of mild to moderate osteoarthritis, typically pain, stiffness, and reduced function, especially when things like rehab/physio, activity changes, and simple pain relief haven’t been enough.

How does a hyaluronic acid injection help?
Hyaluronic acid is part of normal joint fluid. With arthritis, joint fluid can lose some of its “slippery cushion” quality. Monovisc is designed to support lubrication and shock absorption, aiming to make the joint feel smoother and calmer during daily movement.
How quickly does Monovisc work?
Some people notice improvement within a couple of weeks, while others feel it builds more gradually. In a clinical study on knee OA, meaningful pain improvement was observed as early as 2 weeks, with outcomes followed through 26 weeks.
How long does Monovisc last?
Many clinics describe HA injections as aiming for months of symptom relief rather than days or weeks, but the exact duration varies a lot person to person (joint involved, severity, activity levels, weight, strength, and expectations all matter). Knee study follow-up commonly runs out to around 6 months.
Is Monovisc a steroid injection?

No, Monovisc is hyaluronic acid only. That matters for patients who either can’t have steroid, don’t want steroid, or are looking for a non-steroid option to support longer-term joint comfort.

What’s the difference between Monovisc and other HA injections?
  • Dose/volume: Monovisc is a high-dose 4ml (88mg) single injection.
  • Formulation: it’s cross-linked, designed to stay in the joint longer than some “thinner” HA products.
  • Optimised molecular weight: Monovisc has a range of molecular weights that are naturally occurring, allowing it to perform a number of roles in the joint which inlucde – lunrciatoin, cushioning, and also stimulating cells to produce the bodys own hyaluronic acid
Do I need ultrasound guidance?

It depends on the joint and the clinic.

  • Hip injections are commonly done with imaging guidance.

  • Knee injections may be guided or “landmark” depending on the clinician’s preference and your anatomy.

If you’re unsure, it’s a fair question to ask: “Will this be image-guided?”.  But important not to be put off if it isn’t, it can just depend on the clinical practice.

What happens on the day?

Most appointments are quick:

  • brief assessment and consent
  • skin cleaned injection into the joint
  • short rest, then home
  • Some clinicians will remove excess fluid first if the joint is swollen, before injecting.
Can Monovisc be repeated

Yes, Monovisc is a very safe product and gentle to the joint. It is possible to repeat Monovisc every 6-12 months, for example, for a number of years.

Will Monovisc delay surgery

There is strong possibility, which is proven in clinical studies that Monovisc can delay joint replacement surgery

Does Monovisc cure arthritis?

No Monovisc doesnt cure arthritis. Think of it as a symptom and function tool, it can reduce pain and help you move better, but it doesn’t “reverse” arthritis. The best results usually come when injections sit alongside rehab and strength (not instead of it).

Monovisc® supports careful, non-surgical management of Ankle, Knee, Hip and Shoudler joint pain.

Free patient downloads, including the Monovisc leaflet, are available in our resources and shop area, alongside braces, supplements, cold therapy and more.

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References

1. Petterson SC, Plancher KD. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2018). https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s00167-018-5114-0 10.1177/1947603517703732.

2. Hangody L, Szody R, Lukasik P, et al. Cartilage 2017 May; doi: 10.1177/1947603517703732.

3. Instructions for use for Monovisc, Durolane.

4. Balazs, E.A. (2004)Viscosupplementation for treatment of Osteoarthritis: From Initial Discovery to Current Status and Results. Surgical Technology International

5. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Academy A, AAOS. Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee—evidence-based guidelines. Am Acad Orthop Surg Board Dir 2013;973;. Doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-21-09-571

6. CINGAL 13-01, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, active comparator Phase III study.

7. FDA Monovisc Summary of Safety and Efficacy Data (SSED). Application Number: P090031.

8. Altman, R., et. al. Hyaluronic Acid Injections Are Associated with Delay of Total Knee Replacement Surgery in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: Evidence from a Large U.S. Health Claims Database.

9. The synthesis of hyaluronic acid by human synovial fibroblasts is influenced by the nature of the hyaluronate in the extracellular environment. M M Smith 1, P Ghosh