described herein is the use of hyaluronic acid for intra - articular irrigation , in the form of an aqueous solution , comprising hyaluronic acid having molecular weight of between 1 . 8 and 2 . 2 million daltons , or one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts , in a concentration of between approximately 0 . 1 % and approximately 0 . 9 % weight / volume , and one or more cationic species chosen from among sodium , potassium , calcium and magnesium , and one or more anionic species chosen from among chloride ions , phosphate ions and citrate ions .