Are you suffering with osteoarthritis?

By Scott Gormley

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK and affects around a third of people aged 45 and over. Symptoms may include swelling; increased pain and stiffness after prolonged rest that can last more than 30 minutes; joints appearing larger or more “knobbly” than usual; grinding or crackling sounds or sensations in your joints; joint locking; reduced joint range of movement; weakness, instability and muscle wasting. Most joints can be affected by osteoarthritis, but it is more common in knees, hips and hands.

The severity of osteoarthritis symptoms can differ for each person and will be different depending on the joint affected. The symptoms can be mild and affect you intermittently or they can be more extreme and affect your daily activities. If your symptoms are persistent, it is advised you see a professional to advise you on how to best manage your symptoms to help prevent them from worsening.

Your joints are exposed to a minor amount of damage day to day which your body repairs, but if you have osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage between your bones degenerates which causes pain, swelling and problems moving the joint. Bony growths can additionally develop, and the area can become red and swollen.

A number of factors can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis, including: a history of injury to a joint; not giving enough time to heal after an injury or operation and returning to exercise or sport too soon; it can be secondary to rheumatoid arthritis or gout; age, your risk of developing the condition increases as you get older; family history; being obese, this increases the amount of strain on your joints, especially in those that carry most of your weight, such as your knees and hips; and finally gender, osteoarthritis affects more women than men.

Osteoarthritis cannot heal or be cured but there are several ways of managing your symptoms to help prevent them from worsening. Such as: regular low impact exercise (swimming and cycling); if you’re overweight, losing weight to reduce the extra strain on your joints; wearing supportive and correct footwear for your foot type; prescribed medication for the inflammation and pain; heat or ice therapy; advice and treatment from a professional and finally maintain a good posture throughout the day. If conservative management doesn’t help, surgery may be done to repair, strengthen or replace the affected joint.

When osteoarthritis is causing your mobility to worsen or making it difficult to do everyday tasks, assistive devices may also be necessary. If you have hip or knee osteoarthritis which affects your ability to walk, using a walking aid on the opposite side to your affected leg is recommended to reduce the weight you’re putting through the joint. A splint (a piece of rigid material to support a joint or bone) is also advised if you need to rest the affected joint. If you suffer with osteoarthritis in your hands and struggle turning taps without pain, tap turners can be beneficial and make the task easier day to day.

How can our clinic help you?

• Professional advice - manage and help improve your symptoms day to day.

• Exercise advice/prescription - helps improve range of movement, strength, stability and balance.

• Acupuncture/massage - helps reduce swelling and muscle tightness, to improve or maintain your joint range of movement, stability and balance.

• Chiropractic adjustment - helps improve your joint range of movement.

• Pilates and yoga in group setting or 1 to 1 improves upon your strength, movement, stability and balance.

• Custom orthotics/insoles - helps correct foot posture and body alignment, to reduce compensatory loads on your joint which may be worsening your symptoms.

• Injection therapy to manage swelling and pain.

• Pre/post operative rehabilitation and management if surgery is the chosen route.

If you’re suffering with osteoarthritis and need some guidance please get in touch: call 01952 825042 or email info@shropshirephysiotherapy.co.uk