Arthritis is a term that gets thrown around, often times inappropriately as a description of joint pain. Osteoarthritis is often an age-related inflammatory pathology of a joint, sometimes called degenerative joint disease or ‘wear and tear’ but some old fashioned healthcare professionals. Rheumatoid arthritis is another form of joint pathology, but is not necessarily age-related, and has a different presentation and has different treatment routes. 

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is more commonly seen in older people, and described in the mainstream as ‘wear and tear’. Osteoarthritis develops over time, as the cartilage, which is a soft cushioning tissue within joints, begins to gradually break down. 

Symptoms of osteoarthritis can be stiffness in the morning, difficulty in exercising or walking for long periods, tenderness around the joints, and occasional swelling around joints. There can also be new noises coming form the joint, which the person has never experienced before.

Osteoarthritis is rarely equal in your left and the right hand sides, and can present in a variety of ways, depending on what you have done for work and for leisure. For example, a right handed builder may experience osteoarthritis in their right shoulder and not experience it in their left shoulder, or a football player with multiple left knee surgeries may get arthritis in their left knee, even though they are right footed.

The most common sites of osteoarthritis are the knees and hips, but can affect your spine, ankles, shoulder, elbows, and hands also.

Risk factors for osteoarthritis include:

• Being older than 40

• Overuse of a particular limb or joint

• Previous fractures/surgeries on a bone or joint

• Being overweight

• Joint deformities either from birth or from an injury

• Diabetes (Type 1 & 2)

• Gout

Treatment of Osteoarthritis - Surgery

There are some joints that are commonly replaced when osteoarthritis becomes too limiting. Two of the most common orthopaedic surgeries in the UK are elective hip and knee replacements. The idea of these surgeries is not only pain relief, but to provide the person with the ability to regain mobility, and strength. By doing the surgery, the patient can then mitigate the chance of having other joint issues by changing various facets of their lifestyle and gives them ‘a second chance’. Joint replacements can have a fantastic effect on someone’s quality of life, as long as thy make lifestyle changes.

Treatment of Osteoarthritis - Non Surgical

Osteoarthritis isn’t curable., but we can make steps to reduce symptoms, improve function, and mitigate flare ups of symptoms. Initially, as long as someone has consulted their GP in the past, NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) can have a positive effect in the early stages of pain flare up, allowing you to move and engage in rehab. These come in both cream format and in tablet form. Once pain is under control, it is important to be assessed by a physiotherapist to form a specific training plan to get you back to your best. Osteoarthritis is a lifelong issue, and a few weeks of exercise will not be sufficient. Forming a plan, building habits, and making some lifestyle changes means you can have a very active and fulfilling life, even in the presence of osteoarthritis.

If you have any questions on whether physio is the best option for you, or you have any questions about MVMNT in general, feel free to contact via email.

- Jay Towolawi, Specialist Sports Physiotherapist and MVMNT Founder.