Osteoarthritis

What is it?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that affects up to 8.5 million people in the UK and is a condition in which the joints of our body become painful.

The onset of OA occurs in people aged 40 and over, with this increasing the older we get. OA is referred to as a ‘wear and tear’ disease but actually this isn’t the case with the vast majority of OA being attributed to genetics. There are exceptions to this, such as if you fracture a bone or damage ligaments around a joint you may be more susceptible to developing OA.

The most common joints affected are:

Knee

Hip

Lumbar spine (low back)

Cervical spine (neck)

Big toe (Hallux rigidus)

Ankle

Shoulder

Wrist

Fingers

How it might show up in your life?

You begin to feel stiff and sore in the morning or when getting up after a rest

Everyday tasks get harder, like walking, housework or doing the shopping

Activities like gardening are a struggle as kneeling and bending is painful

Sports/hobbies like walking, running, golf or tennis become difficult

Using regular painkillers and resting more often

Where you might feel pain?

Usually in the joint that is affected (knee for example)

Pain can also radiate away from the joint that is affected (hip can refer pain to the knee)

How it might feel?

Feeling of stiffness

Sore in the mornings and when getting up after a rest

Begins to ease as you get moving

Constant or intermittent (comes and goes)

Joint may feel hot, inflamed and look thickened

Pain is usually dull and throbbing but can be sharp

Why do I get Osteoarthritis?

Let’s take the knee joint as an example. A joint is where two bones meet. The knee joint is where the thigh bone (femur) meets the shin bone (Tibia).

The ends of each bone are covered and protected by articular cartilage, which is a smooth, shiny material that helps to provide shock absorption and aid fluid movement of the knee.

In an arthritic joint this cartilage is eroded away until the ends of the bone are exposed and come into contact with each other. This pressure causes nerve endings that live on the bone to become sensitive and painful.

Overtime the pressure results in bony spurs forming, which roughens the joint, making movement more painful.

The main issue with this process is that it forces us to move less because when we do, we experience more pain. As a result, we end up making the issue worse.

The knee joint (like many others) is a synovial joint and in order to stay healthy and function well, it needs to be hydrated with nutrients. It does this through movement and a clever mechanism of pressure and release, which acts to draw nutrients into the joint.

So hopefully it is clear that by avoiding movement and being static, we can actually make the problem and pain worse.

How do we treat Osteoarthritis Pain?

We use our 4-step system to assess and treat OA as outlined below. This ensures you have the best possible chance of getting better and the problem not returning in future.

1) Assess

First we listen to you and take a detailed history of your pain and problem. Then we assess your body and painful joint using simple movement tests and screens.

We then explain your likely diagnosis and proposed treatment plan of exactly what we need to do to get you better.

2) Mobilise

We then begin treatment. This usually involves a combination of hands-on techniques as outlined below to help improve joint stiffness, decrease pain and improve muscle and nerve tension.

Soft tissue massage and mobilisation

Joint mobilisation

Acupuncture and Dry Needling

Muscle Energy Techniques

Taping

Advice around lifestyle, posture and ergonomics.

We begin to build your exercise rehab programme ensuring it fits around your life and is not overwhelming.

3) Strengthen

Once pain has begun to settle and we are moving in the right direction, the emphasis shifts to helping you build the necessary strength and resilience of muscles and joints in order to get those long-lasting results. We work with you 1:1 in our dedicated rehab space and/or start you in our group PhysioFit Pilates classes.

4) Optimise

Now that you are well on your way to being pain free, we show you how to build on these results. Many of our clients choose to start our Physio Led Pilates. classes which are an excellent way to stay consistent with your exercises and to keep you on track going forwards.

Note: Most people don’t need scans but if during the assessment or subsequent treatment sessions we decide your condition does need further investigation like an X-ray or MRI, we have the facilities to refer you privately if you wish. Usually, we can get this organised and have a result within 3-5 days.

How do I get started?

If you are ready to book in then you can either phone the main desk on 0191 814 9717, or use our easy online booking system by clicking here and selecting the ‘Physiotherapy Assessment/First Appointment’ option at a day and time that suits you. You will usually be offered an appointment within 48 hours.

Like to speak to someone first?

No problem, please call the main desk and if needed we can have a physio call you back to discuss your specific situation.

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Ready to Book?

All of our appointments can be easily booked online or if you’d prefer to discuss your needs prior to booking in then please call 0191 814 9717 and we will be happy to chat.