Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as ‘degenerative joint disease’ involves degredation of cartilage and the underlying bone which (among other structures) form a joint. OA is very common, in fact it becomes increasingly common as we age. Some types of OA known as primary OA have no obvious cause and seem to have a genetic link. On the other hand secondary OA has an identifiable underlying cause such as previous injury or obesity. The good news is, since so many of us are living longer, and are therefore more likely to develop OA, there is plenty that can be done to treat OA in order to maximise quality of life and function. Individual physiotherapy assessment may find loss of range of motion, swelling, muscle weakness, altered gait pattern, muscle imbalance etc. Treatment may include manual therapy, an individually tailored exercise programme, gait re-education etc. in order to address some of these issues. Sometimes the degradation in a joint is so significant that joint replacement surgery is required and referral to an orthopaedic surgeon is necessary. Your physiotherapist will work with you both before and after your surgery in order to maximise your recovery.