Osteoarthritis

Table of content:

  1. What is Osteoarthritis?
  2. What is the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis?
  3. What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
  4. What are the 4 stages of osteoarthritis?
  5. What are the treatment options for osteoarthritis?

1. Osteoarthritis – What is it? How does it develop?

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that can start with no obvious reason. Degeneration of the cartilage on the ends of bone begins to degrade, thin and can disappear. Though the degeneration begins in the cartilage, osteoarthritis can affect the joint capsule, ligaments, muscles and underlying bone. The leading cause of osteoarthritis is physical inactivity in people over the age of 65 years of age, as cartilage needs moderate load through physical activity to regenerate itself.

Previously thought of Wear and tear disease which was completely wrong. Osteoarthritis = Joint failure.

Osteoarthritis commonly occurs in the hips, knees, wrist, hands and fingers.

How does a healthy knee joint look like?

     

To provide an example, let’s talk about the largest joint in our body and see how a healthy knee joint looks. The knee joint basically gets us moving every day as it allows the knee to extend and bend back and forth. As you can see in the left image, the knee joint is made up of cartilage, bone, fibrous articular capsule, synovial articular capsule, and ligament.

Fundamentally, cartilage doesn’t contain any blood supply; however, a lot of recent studies show that lack of physical activity, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of osteoarthritis around weight-bearing joints like hip, knee, and spine. cartilage damage happens leading to stiffness, pain, inflammation, and restricted joint movement.

Synovial fluid keeps the Cartilage nourished. With proper motion, cartilage can regenerate.

How do you know if you have osteoarthritis?

The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain around the joints. To understand the condition better, you should observe the following symptoms and connect with your physiotherapist or family doctor for a clinical assessment and diagnosis coupled with an effective physiotherapy treatment plan.

According to the Arthritis Society, arthritis affects over 6 million Canadians. Over 20% of the population age 15 and older are having difficulties with activities of daily living. Arthritis causes pain, inflammation, and it can affect one or multiple joints at once.

People who suffer from osteoarthritis are observed reporting soreness and stiffness around joints, decreased range of motion, and pain or swelling around the joint. Contact our highly trained physiotherapist for an assessment today!

2. What is the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are just different types of arthritis that share similar characteristics but are different due to the cause behind the joint symptoms. Osteoarthritis is developed because of Overloading, Injury, Muscle weakness or physical inactivity whereas rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that may affect multiple joints in the body.

The speed of onset in rheumatoid arthritis is comparatively faster or rapid in nature, ranging from over weeks to months. On the other hand, osteoarthritis is slower and its symptoms can sometimes come and go. For more information on arthritis, read the blog here.

3. What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

It is reckoned that all forms of arthritis cause a bit of pain around the joints. Soreness, stiffness, tenderness, and pain are supposed to be the most common symptoms reported by patients suffering from osteoarthritis. A feeling of discomfort and lack of motion is also identified to be a prominent symptoms of osteoarthritis.

The stiffness in the joint is most likely to be experienced in the morning or after long hours of a break but fortunately, physiotherapy exercises can act as a driving force to get you out of that pain. Our physiotherapists at BeActive will perform an in-depth physical assessment of all the joints in the body followed by a customized, effective, and productive physiotherapy treatment plan for pain management, improve range of motion and increasing strength

The feeling of instability or looseness or an urge of giving away are all red flags to be considered for an assessment. Don’t suffer in pain, call us today.

4. What are the four stages of osteoarthritis?

Stage 1: Minor

  • Least severe stage of OA
  • feel little to no pain 
  • very minimal damage to the cartilage 
  • little bone spur growth 

Stage 2: Mild

  • show more bone spur growth 
  • start to show some symptoms of joint pain, affected area will start to feel stiff after long sedentary periods 

Stage 3 – Moderate 

  • joint becomes inflamed and starts causing discomfort during normal daily activities
  •  obvious erosion to the cartilage surface between bones and fibrillation narrows the gap between the bones. 

Stage 4 – Sevre 

  • most painful 
  • cartilage is almost completely gone, leading to an inflammatory response 
  • The joint space between the bones are considerably reduced, causing the cartilage to wear off, leaving the joint stiff. 

5. What are the treatment options for osteoarthritis?

Treatment of osteoarthritis aims at reducing the key symptoms and improving joint function with adequate education, proper exercises, and a weight-reduction plan if required. Physiotherapy and exercises are considered to be the best relief options when it comes to the treatment of osteoarthritis, according to studies.

All physiotherapists at BeActive Physiotherapy Clinic in Oakville are proactive and dedicated to patient health. Our committed team of physiotherapists ensures that patient health goals and needs are met, with a proper detailed assessment, and by creating an individual physiotherapy treatment program that suits them the best.

Each member of our team understands the impact of joint functions can have on your daily life. As a result, we at BeActive ensure to provide all our services to help our patients to tackle their key symptoms to restore and regain their strength.

 

As mentioned earlier, education, exercise and weight control are considered to be the first line of treatment. Physiotherapists can help you learn the neuromuscular exercise with right alignment.  

Patients with Moderate Osteoarthritis will benefit with First + Second line treatment to provide relief, Improving ROM, Increase strength. Second line can be complemented with TENS, manual therapy, orthotics, Brace  and Walking aids. 

Only for those with extreme symptoms and later stages of Osteoarthritis, surgery is suggested.

Read more about our team here and learn more about our services here. Check out some simple but effective exercises for osteoarthritis treatment for educational purposes on our website here.

Physiotherapy: Treating Arthritis Without Drugs

Discover the Ways Physiotherapy Can Help You Find Natural Relief

Stiffness and discomfort don’t have to be a part of our daily lives — and yet many people assume that they’re doomed to suffer from arthritis pain.

If you’ve been losing more and more of your mobility and productivity due to chronic joint inflammation, you may be disappointed by the use of painkilling drugs or even alarmed by the potential dangers of such drugs.

Fortunately, you have a safer, more effective path toward arthritis pain management: physiotherapy.

How will physiotherapy help my arthritis?

If you want an arthritis pain management plan that improves your health without presenting you with the dangers of drugs, turn to physiotherapy. Our physiotherapist can examine your joints to see how advanced your arthritis has become and how it may be affecting your stance, gait or mobility. You’ll then receive a customized pain management plan that may include:

  • Physiotherapy techniques – You may benefit from massage therapy, cold/heat therapy or laser therapy.
  • Exercise – Exercise can aid arthritis sufferers by boosting circulation, easing inflammation, strengthening joint tissues and increasing range of motion. It can help you improve your balance, if that’s become a problem for you.
  • Lifestyle guidance – Your physiotherapist can recommend specific changes to your everyday ergonomics or lifestyle that will ease your pain.
  • Corrective devices – Your physiotherapist can recommend specialized insoles and train you in the use of devices such as walkers or canes.

What type of arthritis do I have?

Arthritis includes an entire family of painful joint conditions. For some individuals, it may take the form of painful gout in a toe joint; in others, it can strike due to a bacterial joint infection. The majority of arthritis sufferers, however, suffer from one of two agonizing conditions:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis – This form of arthritis is caused by an auto-immune disease or dysfunction. The same protective mechanisms that normally fight off disease germs decide to turn on your joints, treating them as the enemy and attacking them. This results in painful inflammation that may come and go, leaving joint swelling and deformity in its wake.
  • Osteoarthritis – This most common form of arthritis is usually a natural consequence of a lifetime of joint motion, coupled with certain changes that take place during aging. Healthy joints contain not only a lubricating fluid to keep the bone ends moving smoothly, but also a layer of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber and anti-friction component. Over time, however, the production of lubricating fluid can start to dry up, while the cartilage becomes thinner and more worn until it finally breaks down completely. This leaves you with pain, stiffness, and inflammation that usually feels worse whenever you try to move or put weight on the joint.

Many arthritis sufferers naturally turn to medication in the hopes that it will ease their symptoms. NSAIDs, steroids, and (and in the most severe cases) opioid drugs may produce such relief, but only temporarily. These drugs can’t address the physical problems that actually cause your symptoms; they can only mute the symptoms themselves.

What’s more, painkilling and anti-inflammatory drugs can pose significant risks if they’re used constantly. NSAIDs can damage the internal organs, while steroids may contribute to everything from cataracts to osteoporosis. Opioids can be extremely dangerous, not only because of their addictive properties but also because overdoses can (and often do) prove fatal.

Understanding the dangers of opioids

Both opioid prescription rates and deaths from opioid overdoses have quadrupled in the last two decades. Given these identical statistics, one can’t escape the obvious conclusion: Reliance on painkillers has gotten out of hand, and the consequences can be literally fatal.

In a study published by the American Physical Therapy Association, titled “Beyond Opioids: How physiotherapy Can Transform Pain Management and Improve Health,” this issue is exhaustively analyzed. It identifies three important waves of the opioid epidemic:

“1. Increases in deaths involving prescription opioids starting in 1999
2. Increases in deaths involving heroin starting in 2010
3. Increases in deaths involving synthetic opioids since 2013”

Beyond extreme physical risk, over-reliance on prescription painkillers can have other detrimental effects on your health.

Withdrawal symptoms can be harrowing. And while you’re still using them, opioids can lead to depression, which sets up a vicious cycle of self-medicating in order to feel better emotionally as well as physically.

Find relief today

Don’t just numb your arthritis pain – manage it a smart, safe, and effective way. Contact BeActive Physio today!

Manage Your Arthritis the Natural Way – With the Help of Physiotherapy

Arthritis Pains Don’t Need to Slow You Down Any Longer!

If you have arthritis, then you know all about the difficulties with moving and functioning in daily life that it can present. What you might not know, however, is that physiotherapy can help you find relief from your arthritis pain.

There is no cure for arthritis, but by using the exercises and techniques that your physiotherapist can teach you, the onset of arthritis can be slowed and you will experience less pain overall.

You have the choice for a safer, more effective path toward arthritis pain management: physiotherapy. Contact BeActive Physio and schedule a physiotherapy appointment today.

What can I expect from PT for my arthritis pains?

Physiotherapy visits are often short in duration. Your therapist will be focused on spotting problems with your physical function that are related to arthritis, and teaching you methods you can employ at home to relieve pain.

The way to actually achieve pain relief from your arthritis is to keep up with the teachings for the long term. The improvement will be gradual, so it’s important that you follow your physiotherapist’s instructions.

In order to help your physiotherapist to provide you with the best advice possible, think carefully about different physical goals that you might have.

For example, you might want to be able to do your daily job without straining your hips or knees, to reach things high up on a kitchen shelf, or to simply get in and out of your car without pain. Expressing these goals to your therapist will aid in ensuring that your treatments are as specific to your goals as possible.

Your physiotherapy sessions probably won’t need to be done on a weekly basis. Once every few weeks to monitor your condition and progress should be sufficient.

How do I know what type of arthritis I have?

Arthritis includes an entire family of painful joint conditions. For some individuals, it may take the form of painful gout in a toe joint; in others, it can strike due to a bacterial joint infection. The majority of arthritis sufferers, however, suffer from one of two agonizing conditions:

  • Osteoarthritis – This most common form of arthritis is usually a natural consequence of a lifetime of joint motion, coupled with certain changes that take place during aging. Healthy joints contain not only a lubricating fluid to keep the bone ends moving smoothly, but also a layer of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber and anti-friction component. Over time, however, the production of lubricating fluid can start to dry up, while the cartilage becomes thinner and more worn until it finally breaks down completely. This leaves you with pain, stiffness, and inflammation that usually feels worse whenever you try to move or put weight on the joint.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis – This form of arthritis is caused by an auto-immune disease or dysfunction. The same protective mechanisms that normally fight off disease germs decide to turn on your joints, treating them as the enemy and attacking them. This results in painful inflammation that may come and go, leaving joint swelling and deformity in its wake.

How will I benefit?

Arthritis attacks the joints of the body, so the goal of physiotherapy will be to restore the use of those joints and improve your ability to move around and engage in daily activities.

This will be achieved through a combination of exercise to strengthen the support structures around the joints, and teaching you how to move and engage in activities without worsening your symptoms. The exact course of treatment that your physiotherapist will prescribe will depend on how advanced your arthritis is and which parts of the body are impacted.

The physical exercises your therapist will teach you will be directed toward improving your mobility, range of motion, flexibility, and coordination. Your plan may include any combination of:

  • Environmental modifications: Your physiotherapist can make specific recommendations for additional therapeutic aids based on your type of arthritis. These can include ergonomic furniture or cushioned mats in areas of your home or at work where you tend to stand on your feet for long periods of time.
  • Treatments: Modern physiotherapy has a broad range of treatment options available to assist with arthritis pain. Hot and cold therapy can relieve the pain and stiffness in joints; braces or splints can help to stabilize and support arthritic joints; shoe inserts can relieve arthritis pain in the lower extremities; and so on.
  • Education: Sometimes arthritis in the hip or knee will require the use of assistive mobility devices, such as a cane or walker. Your physiotherapist will teach you the proper way to use these devices.
  • Posture: Your therapist will teach you various body mechanic techniques that will improve joint function and reduce pain. You will also be taught ways to use your strongest muscles and joints to relieve pressure on arthritic joints.

Get started today

If you are ready for relief from arthritis pain, contact BeActive Physio to schedule your first appointment with a physiotherapist.

Is Arthritis Paining You? Physiotherapy Can Help

If you have arthritis, you know how debilitating it can be. It affects millions of people and is the most commonly reported chronic illness across the nation. Arthritis is a disorder of the joints that causes them to become inflamed. The inflammation causes the pain and stiffness that you feel, and it can result in a loss of movement if the joints become too inflamed. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, containing monoarthritis (where only one joint is affected) and oligoarthritis (where multiple joints are affected.) Some of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, which develops from “wear and tear” of cartilage, and rheumatoid arthritis, which develops from overactive immune systems.

Arthritis can hinder many qualities of life – from work, to hobbies, to overall mobility. Some people are so affected by arthritis that they are unable to work and have to go on disability. If you are suffering from the chronic pain of arthritis, call BeActive Oakville Physiotherapy & Wellness to schedule a consultation with one of our physiotherapists today. Physiotherapy is a safe, healthy, and effective way to treat arthritic pain.

How do I know if I have arthritis?

First and foremost, if you believe you may be suffering from arthritis, you should contact your primary care provider. He or she will provide a thorough evaluation, looking for signs of disease, such as inflammation and/or deformity. They will review your symptoms, and may administer any blood tests, urine tests, joint fluid tests, or x-rays as they deem necessary. If you are diagnosed with arthritis after these tests, your doctor will create a treatment plan for you, in relation to the location and severity of the condition. This treatment plan may include rest, exercise routines, and medications as necessary.

It is very likely that you will also be referred to a physiotherapist to help guide you through your exercise routines, in order to measure progress and make sure that you are completing your physical activity in a proper a safe and correct manner. Early diagnosis can be helpful in avoiding joint damage and disability, so it is imperative that you contact a doctor as soon as you think you may be developing arthritic symptoms.

How will physiotherapy help me?

While there is unfortunately no known cure for arthritis, there are plenty of ways to help ease the pain that you may feel from it. Physiotherapy is a proven aid in arthritic pain relief. It is effective and noninvasive, and in many cases, it eliminates the need to rely on harmful pain medication. According to the Arthritis Center at Johns Hopkins,

“Physical activity is essential to optimizing both physical and mental health and can play a vital role in the management of arthritis. Regular physical activity can keep the muscles around affected joints strong, decrease bone loss and may help control joint swelling and pain. Regular activity replenishes lubrication to the cartilage of the joint and reduces stiffness and pain. Exercise also helps to enhance energy and stamina by decreasing fatigue and improving sleep. Exercise can enhance weight loss and promote long-term weight management in those with arthritis who are overweight.”

A physiotherapist will custom-tailor a treatment plan surrounding your needs, in order to increase your strength, range of motion, and mobility. This will include the affected area, as well as any surrounding areas that may contribute to the pain. For example, if your arthritis is in your knee, your physiotherapist may create a treatment plan that focuses on the knee, in addition to the hips, ankles, and lower back, since all of these areas may affect the movement of the knee.

Your physiotherapist will most likely suggest manual therapy, in order to improve joint and soft tissue mobilization. Your treatment plan may consist of any combination of treatment services, including ice and heat therapy, deep tissue massage, or electrical nerve stimulation. All of these treatments are passive modalities that work to reduce pain and inflammation, in addition to increasing blood flow and mobility.

Our research-driven treatments will help you find quick and long-lasting pain relief. If you are suffering from arthritic pain, give BeActive Oakville Physiotherapy & Wellness a call today and we will help you get your life back on track. Our physiotherapy team is committed to your success, and we will provide you with everything you need on your journey toward long-lasting relief!

Sources:

Role of Exercise in Arthritis Management

https://www.apta.org/Blogs/PTTransforms/2016/5/26/Arthritis/

How to Treat Arthritis Pain Without Medication

What is arthritis?

Arthritis can sometimes serve as a bit of an umbrella term. It is used to describe over 100 different types of joint pain and joint disease experienced by millions of people. It is true that arthritis seems to favor the elderly, as it becomes more apparent in people as they age; however, it is possible for people to experience arthritis in their early middle age.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, it actually has a higher probability of affecting elite male athletes than the rest of the general public. It states that about 30 percent of elite male athletes who engage in contact sports will develop arthritis in the knees and hips, due to the wear and tear that the overexertion has on their joints. They are also more likely to be at risk for arthritis later in life.

What can I do?

A common treatment for arthritis is medication, usually for pain manageability. Your physician may prescribe NSAID pain relievers, corticosteroids, antirheumatic drugs, or antibiotics for your arthritis treatment. Medication is easy – you pop it in your mouth, chase it with water, and your pain subsides shortly afterward. However, they can also cause some unfavorable side effects, and in some cases they can be habit-forming. With NSAIDs, you run the risk of blood clots, heart attack, or stroke. With corticosteroids, you run the risk of cataracts, high blood sugar levels, and bone loss. Luckily, there is a much safer and healthier alternative to treating arthritis: physiotherapy.

If you believe you may be experiencing arthritic pain, and you’re looking for relief without the harmful risk of drugs, call our office today. We’ll set you up with a physiotherapist who can help you kick the meds and reduce your arthritis symptoms!

The different types of arthritis:

  • Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of arthritis. It is caused by a reduction in joint cartilage through the “wear and tear” one experiences with age. This process of wearing down cartilage causes bones to rub together, which leads to pain and swelling. Physiotherapy can often help to reduce osteoarthritis pain without medication, especially if it is diagnosed as mild-to-moderate.
  • Inflammatory Arthritis: Also referred to as Rheumatoid Arthritis, this occurs when the body’s immune system attacks joint tissues with intense inflammation. Inflammatory arthritis often has a genetic cause, and doctors usually treat it aggressively with drugs. However, depending on the severity of symptoms, physiotherapy may be recommended for treatment as well.
  • Metabolic Arthritis: The most common type of metabolic arthritis is gout, a condition caused by uric acid crystals building up in the joints of the extremities, especially in the feet. This is typically a result of reduced kidney function. Physiotherapy can help gout patients restore range of motion in the affected area, and it can even reduce the buildup of acidic crystals that accumulate in the joints.

How will physiotherapy help me?

A physiotherapist’s main goal when treating arthritis is reducing stress on the joints, increasing strength, and preserving range of motion. Some benefits to working with a physiotherapist include:

  • Weight control. Your physiotherapist will work with you to control your weight through exercise and diet. Controlling your weight helps to prevent added stress on weight-bearing joints.
  • Proper posture. Posture work will help to reduce stress on your joints.
  • Stretching/exercise. Light exercises and stretching will help to increase range of motion in the affected areas.
  • Rest. Your therapist will also recommend a schedule for rest and sleep to complement your exercises. This helps the body to heal and will hopefully reduce your amount of arthritic inflammation and pain.

Every treatment regimen is different based on your body’s needs and your particular type of arthritis. The best way to get started on a natural, safe, and healthy treatment through physiotherapy is by calling and scheduling a consultation with one of our physiotherapists today. We’ll get you feeling comfortable and pain-free after just a few short sessions!

Sources:

https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/natural/other-therapies/what-is-physical-therapy.php

https://www.moveforwardpt.com/Arthritis

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