Find relief from osteoarthritis with osteopathy
Nick Herbert 29/10/24What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterised by the breakdown of
cartilage, the tissue that cushions the ends of bones in joints. It is the most common
form of arthritis and typically affects older adults, but it can also occur in younger
people due to injury or obesity.
Risk Factors:
• Age: Risk increases with age.
• Weight: Excess adipose tissue increases excess inflammation in our body.
• Joint Injuries: Previous injuries can lead to OA.
• Genetics: Family history may increase risk.
• Overuse: Repetitive stress on joints from certain occupations or sports.
Symptoms:
• Broad pain in the affected joints
• Stiffness, especially in the morning or after inactivity
• Swelling around the joints
• Decreased flexibility and range of motion
• A grating sensation or popping sound when moving the joint
Commonly Affected Joints:
• Knees
• Hips
• Hands
• Spine
Treatment Options:
1. Lifestyle Modifications:
- Regular low-impact exercise (e.g., swimming, walking)
- Supervised function/goal orientation exercise rehabilitation
- Weight management
- Nutrition changes
2. Medications:
- Pain relievers/anti-inflammatories (e.g., acetaminophen, NSAIDs)
- Topical treatments (creams or patches)
3. Injections:
- Corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid injections.
4. Surgery:
- Joint replacement or other surgical options may be considered for severe
cases.
Common beliefs about OA: Don’t fear OA
“It’s just wear and tear”
Firstly, what is it meant by “wear and tear”? “Wear and tear” is a common phrase used
to describe joint degeneration from years of hard work. Which makes sense! However,
as we mentioned earlier there are multiple risk factors associated with OA, not just
repetitive joint stress or joint injury. All of which increase inflammation, making it more
likely that our joints will become painful.
Also, age related degeneration or “wear and tear” is normal, it has been shown that
approximately 32% of people over 50 years old and 69% of 70-year-olds have joint
degeneration but don’t have any pain. Therefore, “wear and tear” is a normal process
and may only be a piece of the puzzle when it comes to OA.
“I have bone-on-bone”
Bone-on-bone is the thought that our cartilage in our joints have worn away completely,
and we now have the two bones of the joint rubbing on each other causing our pain. This
can occur for people with OA, but only in very late stages. Even with bone-on-bone,
people are able to live with manageable pain and still complete the activities they need
and love. In earlier stages of OA, people can experience pain and inflammation of the
knee joint and have no visible degeneration of the cartilage, therefore not having “bone-
on- bone” but still having OA.
“I need a joint replacement to fix my OA”
This is a possibility, however approximately only 10% of individuals with OA will require
joint replacement surgery over their lifetime. Surgery may only be required in late
stages, where an individual’s life is highly impacted by the condition. The majority of
individuals with OA are able to manage their condition without needing surgery because
we have fantastic results with conservative treatments, like exercise and diet.
What’s great about this explanation is that we have multiple ways we can reduce how
OA impacts us. And that OA isn’t a diagnosis which means we have to get a joint
replacement, or we have to stop the activities we love. Funnily enough, rehabilitation
often includes these activities as a way to reduce pain!