The invention provides viscosupplementation methods for treating osteoarthritis and joint injury with HA-based viscosupplements, particularly viscosupplements with an intra-articular residence half-life shorter than 3 weeks. Viscosupplements for use in the methods of the invention may be further characterized in that they contain less than 20 mg/ml HA, at least 5% (w/w) of which is in a gel form, such as, e.g., hylan B. In an illustrative embodiment, hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc®) is administered in a single intra-articular knee injection of 6±2 ml.