Osteoarthritis, OA or degenerative joint disease is the breakdown of the articular hyaline cartilage within a joint along with changes to the subchondral bone, joint capsule and surrounding tissues. It is a normal age-related disease effecting around 25% of adults. It commonly effects weight bearing and commonly used joints such as knees, hips, ankles, the spine and hands.
Someone with osteoarthritis may experience symptoms such as:
• Pain that often worsens with activity or following longer periods of rest. • Loss of range of motion (ROM)
• Crepitus – Creaking/crackling like sounds coming from the joint
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Sensitivity to the cold of the affected area.
However, an individual may have osteoarthritis and not experience any symptoms. It is often an incidental finding on imaging
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis is usually made clinically, often with no imaging required. This is because imaging often won’t change the management of the injury. Osteoarthritis is usually diagnosed following exclusion of other possible injuries to the joint, and is heavily associated with age, previous injury, obesity, muscle weakness and other factors that may raise suspicion of OA.
In rare cases, imaging may be required to determine the severity of the degeneration. This is usually when the disease has become incredibly debilitating for an individual and surgery such as a joint replacement may be required.
Management of OA may include:
• Physiotherapy to help with joint stiffness, ROM and muscular strength
• Activity Modification
• Weight Management
• Manual Therapy
• Bracing
• Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
I highly recommend Donna at Blue Sky. I have found her to be kind, understanding and compassionate. She saw me at short notice for my first appointment with her and she has helped me immensely. Donna is very dedicated to her clients and in helping them recover. Thank you.
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