Osteoarthritis occurs when people develop normal age related changes in their joints that may cause pain. Symptom severity will differ from person to person but it is the most common reason for people not being physically active as they age.
Risk Factors
Risk factors are either ‘non-modifiable’ or modifiable’. We try to focus more on the latter as these are things that we can actually change!
Non-Modifiable
- Age: Osteoarthritis is the most common lifestyle disease in people aged 65 years or older.
- Gender: Females are more likely to develop symptoms associated with osteoarthritis than their male counterparts.
- Family history of osteoarthritis.
Modifiable
- History of joint injury or overload.
- Body weight.
- Nutrition.
- Physical inactivity.
- Muscle weakness.
Symptoms
Symptoms associated with osteoarthritis can either develop slowly over several years or have a sudden onset.
- Pain with weightbearing activities or at rest.
- Joint stiffness and reduced range of motion.
- Feelings of instability associated with reduced confidence in joint.
- Joint swelling.
Diagnosis
Your healthcare practitioner will use your risk factors and self-reported symptoms alongside a clinical examination to formulate a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. We know that two people with very similar x-rays can report completely different symptom levels so less emphasis is being placed on the need for imaging to make a diagnosis.
Treatment
Evidence has shown that people experiencing osteoarthritis related symptoms should be offered land-based therapeutic exercise and education as a first line treatment. If this does not provide adequate symptom reduction then second line treatments such as pain relief, walking aids and manual therapy should be trialled in conjunction with exercise and education before resorting to surgery. Even if you do end up going down the joint replacement pathway, having engaged in some resistance training will assist with your recovery post-operatively!
