Osteoarthritis

• Arthritis is the second most common long-term condition in Australia, affecting over two million people.

• One in five people falsely think that arthritis can only be treated with medication. (1)

• Another common misconception is that movement is bad for arthritis.

What is Osteoarthritis?

·         There are a number of different forms of arthritis, including inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid, psoariatic or reactive arthritis). However, in the majority of cases people who are told they have arthritis have Osteoarthritis (OA).

·         Osteoarthritis is a common condition, characterised by ‘wear and tear’ in the joint(s) of the body through normal ageing, but it can come on earlier in life through heavy and repetitive overuse of these joints. Factors such as genes, weight and a history of injuries or accidents of the joint(s) can also lead to OA. It most often affects hips and knees but the spine, hands, wrists and ankles are also frequently problem areas. 

·         Wear and tear causes thinning of the discs or cartilage between the joint bony surfaces and subsequent friction. Pain, inflammation and bony deposits (osteophytes) resulting from this cause the surrounding soft tissue to shorten and reduces the use of the damaged joint.  This reduced mobility deprives the joint of adequate lubrication, drainage and nutrition and the muscles around the area can become inhibited and weak. 

Although this may sound scary, it doesn’t mean that you have to put up with it, or that the only option is surgery or long-term strong medication. Surgery is appropriate in some cases, but often OA can be effectively managed without surgery.

ADVICE TO THOSE WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS:

Early diagnosis and improving lifestyle factors are key to preventing further degeneration, and to help you perform daily activities more easily.

Osteopathic treatment

The Principles of Osteopathy are well applied to a condition like Osteoarthritis.

According to the Principles:

1.     The Body is a Unit, and all parts interact with each other in a harmonious way. 

2.     Structure and Function are inter-related. 

3.     The Body is a self-healing mechanism. 

4.     Assessment, diagnosis and management are based on the above. 

Put simply, the hip bone is connected to the knee bone which is connected to the ankle bone!

·        Osteopaths observe and integrate information from multiple body parts into a holistic approach to management. For example, an old unresolved ankle injury that you are no longer getting symptoms from, might be impacting the function of your hip, which becomes symptomatic.  

·        NHS guidelines state that, together with weight loss, pain medication (as appropriate) and exercise, manual therapy such as Osteopathy may improve joint range of movement (both of the affected joint and related joints), relieve pain, promote better blood flow to the joint, increase flexibility and improve quality of life for those with OA. (2)(3)

Understand your pain

·        In conditions where pain is present for a long time, such as arthritis, our nervous system can become hypersensitive and therefore we are more likely to feel more pain, more often.

·        Your Osteopath will help you understand your pain, and provide strategies for how best to manage it.

Stay active – motion is lotion! Move it or lose it!

·        Research shows that gentle encouragement or, even better, strengthening of the muscles around the joint can help ease the pain and keep the joint mobile. An NCOR report shows strong evidence that exercise in general can help the pain of hip and knee osteoarthritis. (4)

·        Stretching also helps to keep the muscles supporting the arthritic joint(s) supple and mobile.

·        It is important to find the most appropriate exercise for your condition – your Osteopath will include advice as part of your treatment plan.

Stay positive

·        Quite a number of people with arthritis detected on XRays or MRIs are completely free of symptoms.  You could be one of them!

References

1.  ABS (2022a) Health conditions prevalence, ABS website, accessed 21 March 2022.

2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/treatment/

3. Altinbilek, J, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment relieves pain and improves function in knee osteoarthritis – a single blind, RCT trial.Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2018

4. Ruddock, Jay Exercise Therapy in the management of hip and knee arthritis. National Council for Osteopathic research 2018