Osteoarthritis, often abbreviated to simply OA, is the most common form of arthritis.
OA most commonly affects the knees, hips, thumb and joints of the fingers.
FACTS
** Scans are poorly related to pain and disability **
** Exercise is safe an effective **
** Rest and avoidance makes the pain worse **
** Pain does NOT equal damage **
** 10% decrease in body weight = 50% decrease in PAIN **
** 20% of people do not get any pain relief from a knee replacement **
MYTHS
** The degree of OA predicts the amount of pain and disability level **
** Only surgery will fix it **
** Exercise is dangerous **
** Rest is helpful **
** Pain = Damage **
Symptoms
Joint pain or tenderness, often intermittent
Stiffness that may often be worse first thing in the morning
Joint swelling or deformity
Joint redness and/ or the joint is hot to touch
A reduction in joint range and movement
Speak with your physiotherapist about the best treatment for OA or look out for our next informative blog on treatment of OA.