Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Often called ‘wear and tear’ arthritis. It is the process of degeneration of cartilage in our joints over time. Cartilage is the protective substance that coats the ends of bones where they come in contact with one another within our joints. Almost any joint can be affected by osteoarthritis, but it usually OA presents problems in the knees, hips, spine and small joints of the hands.

Osteoarthritis can degrade cartilage, change bone shape and cause inflammation. This results in pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. Generally, OA is a progressive condition that happens over time and can be a normal factor in growing older. However, there are ways to manage OA to minimize pain, continue to be physically active, maintain a good quality of life and remain mobile and independent.

What are the symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

• Pain or aching in a joint during activity. This is the primary symptom of OA. Pain after a long activity or at the end of the day. The pain is often described as an “ache” and can be felt at rest and if you are moving the joint.
• Inflammation can cause swelling around the joint
• Joint stiffness which usually occurs first thing in the morning or after resting.
• Tenderness in the area around the affected joint making it tender or painful to press on
• A Reduced range of motion in certain activities like crouching down to pick something up or getting out of your seat becomes more difficult
• Clicking, popping (crepitus) joint instability or buckling of the joint.
• Reduced Strength in some of the things you used to be able to do. You may find it more difficult to do certain exercises or movement patterns due to reduced strength in the muscles surrounding the joint

Stages of Osteoarthritis

There are 4 main stages of Osteoarthritis. Minor, mild, moderate and severe. All stages can be treated with either physiotherapy or surgery to ensure you can remain mobile and experience as little pain as possible.

How to treat Osteoarthritis

The main goal of working with a physiotherapist to manage your OA is to help reduce pain and inflammation, normalise joint range of motion, strengthen muscles, educate you on long-term management and activity modification to keep you agile and mobile.

Depending on the stage of the OA we usually start with conservative treatment that works for your, your lifestyle and has a good body of evidence behind it. Every person’s body and mobility is different so we like to spend time assessing you and your movement abilities. We listen to the story of your symptoms and pain and support you across all aspects of the journey. Working with a Physio to treat OA symptoms and improve pain and function is a step in the right direction towards managing OA

Working with a physiotherapist to treat Osteoarthritis

Research shows that exercise is the most effective non-invasive treatment for reducing pain and improving function in patients with OA. Exercising the muscles surrounding weight-bearing joints that are affected can improve your loading abilities, awareness and the overall function of the joint.

• Activity modification for a movement that causes pain
• Lifestyle advice
• Knee bracing
• Self-management skills and patient education. We are committed to empowering every client that comes through our clinic. Learning self-management skills and understanding how arthritis affects your life can increase your confidence in controlling symptoms and living well.
• Certain medications can be an option however when used alone these options perform more poorly at the one-year mark than exercise therapy over the long term. They can provide a window of opportunity to get an exercise routine going if you are experiencing increased pain or reduced mobility but they are not a long-term solution.

What Exercises Should You Avoid with Osteoarthritis?

We are big proponents of staying active where possible when attending physiotherapy. However, in some cases, you may need to modify the sports or exercises you choose. Avoiding high-impact exercises that put too much pressure or strain on your joints, such as running and sports that involve hopping, quick or sudden turns, or stopping and starting (i.e. tennis, soccer, basketball). A good rule of thumb is that if the activity increases pain during or after exercise, and this persists for several hours (or disturbs your sleep that night), it should be avoided.

Treat Osteoarthritis in Galway

We all experience some degree of pain and wear and tear with our bodies as we move through life. If the pain or stiffness you are feeling is affecting your daily life there are many treatment options available to you. In addition to these treatments, there are many self-management strategies to help you throughout your daily life so you can pursue the activities that are important to you.