Osteoarthritis, Physiotherapy & Exercise

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is related back to the age related changes of the joint. Most commonly the joints that are affected by OA are the knee, the hip, the hands and the feet. 

 

OA is a condition that affects the entire joint including the muscles, the bones, the cartilage and the ligaments and the symptoms of OA can vary from person to person. These problems may include persistent pain, stiffening joints and difficulty with functional activities such as going up and down stairs, getting in the car or putting your shoes and socks on. 

 

Because of the pain associated with OA, people who are affected, may attempt to avoid participating in particular activities. Unfortunately because of this that may lead to weakening muscles, the feeling of joint instability and increased levels of pain. 

 

For this reason exercise plays a significant role in the management of OA. Exercise can help to reduce your pain, increase your muscle strength, improve your joint movement, help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight to reduce the load on sore joints and also to prevent de-conditioning.

 

Many types of exercise can be beneficial when it comes to managing OA and so its important to chose an exercise that you enjoy and can easily include in your daily life. It is also important to start slowly and increase your activity as you become stronger and fitter. 

 

Some examples of exercise that are fantastic include, strengthening exercises to build up your muscle strength, aerobic exercise like cycling or walking and aquatic exercise or hydrotherapy which may be particularly helpful due to the support provided by the water and the reduced stress going through the joints. Balance exercises and tai chi may also be helpful to promote muscle strengthening and flexibility. 

 

Remember sometimes you may experience some discomfort during exercise but that’s ok this is very normal. However, sometimes you may experience a flare up from time to time and in this case it's a fantastic idea to get assessed by your physiotherapist and to help you manage your flare up. 

 

If you or anyone else suffers from OA and would like some help managing their pain, providing them with an exercise program, lose some weight or get into hydrotherapy please feel free to contact me on the details below. 

 

 

 

Chris Pearson
Physiotherapist & Accredited Exercise Physiologist