Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease that affects many of the joints of the body. The knees are some of the most commonly affected joints, with many people experiencing at least a small degree of osteoarthritis over the age of 40. The disease is characterized by degradation of the cartilage that lines the surfaces of the joint, growth of osteophytes or bony spurs, pain, stiffness and swelling. What are the symptoms?
Stiffness in the morning, pain with movement, clicking, crepitus, swelling and a generalized reduction in joint range of motion are all common symptoms of osteoarthritis. As OA is a progressive disease, the condition is categorized into stages to help describe symptoms and guide treatment. Early stages of OA may have only mild symptoms, however as the disease progresses or in more severe case, a joint replacement may be required. What causes it? While ageing is the most significant risk factor for the development of OA, it’s not an inevitable consequence of growing older. Other factors that may predict the development of OA are obesity, family history, previous joint injury, high impact sporting activities and peripheral neuropathy. It is thought that abnormal wear and tear or stress on the joint is the primary cause of OA. It is also important to note that many people will have changes on X-Ray that show OA, but will have no symptoms – which indicates that simply having OA is not a guarantee of persistent pain. What is the treatment? Your physiotherapist is first able to help diagnosis and differentiate OA from other conditions that may have similar symptoms. An X-Ray can confirm the diagnosis and can be helpful in determining the best course of treatment to follow. While OA is a progressive disorder, there is often a significant improvement that can be made simply by addressing lifestyle factors and any biomechanical factors that may be contributing to pain. How can physio help? Your physiotherapist is able to guide you with strengthening exercises to support the joints, advice for adapting your exercise routine and can even help you to lose weight, all of which have been shown to have a positive impact on the symptoms of OA. If surgery becomes the right course for you, your physiotherapist is able to guide you through this treatment pathway, helping you to prepare and recover from surgery to get the best outcome possible.
2 Comments
Knee pain comes in many forms with many different causes. While treatment for every person and condition will be different in each case, here are a few tips that may help to reduce your knee pain throughout the day. 1. Choose supportive footwear
One of the biggest culprits for ongoing knee pain is wearing unsupportive or high-heeled shoes to work. High heels often lead to tight calves and altered gait patterns, while unsupportive shoes can allow rolling in of the feet, which can then place extra stress on the knee joints. Having an assessment with your physiotherapist to see how your shoes might be affecting your knee pain is a worthwhile investment. 2. Adjust your sleeping position While most of the time, our knees get a well deserved rest during the night-time hours, there are a few sleeping positions that can place additional stress on the knees. Lying on your side with bent knees can place tension on the outer thigh muscles and the knee joint itself. Try to keep your knees straightened to only 30 degrees of bend and if you sleep on your side, place a pillow underneath the top knee to reduce stress on the joint. Alternatively, if you sleep on your back it may be helpful to place a pillow under your knees so that they rest in a slightly bent position, to unload the joint. Try experimenting with different pillow arrangements to see which combination works best for you. 3. Avoid sitting or resting too much When knee pain strikes, your first instinct is probably to get off your feet and stop exercising. The truth is that our knees, like all our joints, are designed for movement and regular exercise helps to keep them healthy. If you are having pain with high impact activities such as running, try switching to swimming and cycling before stopping exercise altogether. Resting in a sitting position for prolonged periods can also place excess stress over the knee cap and knee joint. When sitting for long periods, try to stretch your legs out ahead of you and avoid crossing your legs. 4. Seek physiotherapy treatment Many of us see putting up with pain as a sign of strength however, a small niggle that is easily treatable can turn into a larger problem if left over time. This may seem like an obvious point, yet the first step to recovery is often just seeking treatment. Our physiotherapists are happy to discuss your condition with you and share their tips to help you stay pain-free. |
Categories
All
|