Do You Have Osteoarthritis?

It’s likely that you or someone you know, has been impacted by Osteoarthritis (OA), as it is the most common type of arthritis in the UK. When at its worst, its symptoms can be extremely severe and debilitating, often stopping you from doing the things that you love to do!

OA can affect any joint in the body, however it is most common in the weight bearing joints of our body such as our feet, knee or hips. It can also affect joint that are used a lot in day to day life such as our hands.

The symptoms of OA don’t usually start to affect people until after the age of 40. The natural ageing process, along with other factors as we age, such as weight gain, muscle loss, and the inability of the body to heal itself as quickly as it used to can lead to the symptoms of OA.

Common symptoms of OA are pain, stiffness and swelling in the affected joints. Stiffness can be particularly bad in the morning or at the end of the day. A lot of people find that gentle movement can help alleviate the symptoms. It’s also normal to hear the joint crackle and pop when it’s going through its range of motion. Its also common to see the muscle around the effected joint start deteriorate.

We don’t know for certain yet what causes OA. We know that it’s not just simple “wear and tear”. Other factors such as age, genetics, obesity, and previous injury can all contribute towards the development of symptoms.

Our team at Aristos Physiotherapy, help people everyday with OA. Just because you have received a diagnosis of OA, it doesn’t mean that you have to stop doing the activities you enjoy. With the help of a Physiotherapist, you can look to maintain or improve your range of motion and strength to help manage the symptoms of your OA.

If you would like more information on how our team can help you, please call 01563262123 or email info@aristosphysiotherapy.co.uk