Osteoarthritis (or OA) is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in a joint gradually wears away over time. As the cartilage deteriorates, OA can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joint. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but it most commonly occurs in the knees, hips, hands, and spine.

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability in the UK and can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. It is estimated that around 8.75 million people in the UK are affected by osteoarthritis, which is roughly 15% of the population. The condition becomes more common with age, affecting around half of people over 65 years old.

Here at goPhysio, we always ensure we keep up to date with the latest guidance to optimise our treatment and your care. Just out, is the latest guidance for managing Osteoarthritis (OA). Here’s a more technical summary from the British Medical Journal, in picture format.

The key messages and take aways are:

1. There is an emphasis on providing supervised, tailored, therapeutic exercise, combined with educational support. Our exercise rehab service is perfectly suited for this – individual, tailored and supervised exercise from our fully equipped Strong Room. Read more here.
2. Information and support should be provided, including signposting to information on OA, exercise, managing symptoms, and treatment options.
3. Manual therapy (hands on treatment) should be considered alongside exercise.
4. If you are obese or overweight, loosing weight will be beneficial to help your OA.
5. Medical management (so tablets, creams, gels etc.) can be useful if used in the short term to help maximise function and support engagement with other treatments like exercise. The first choice should be non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams.
6. Surgery should only be considered if symptoms are substantially impacting quality of life and other management is ineffective.

If you have Osteoarthritis and would like help and support to manage your symptoms and activity, our team are here to help. You can book an appointment online here or give us a call on 023 8025 3317. 

Read more:

• All about Osteoarthritis
• Pilates for Osteoarthritis
• 6 Arthritis Myths

What is a NICE guideline? 

A NICE guideline is a set of evidence-based recommendations for healthcare professionals on how to prevent, diagnose, and treat various medical conditions. NICE stands for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which is a UK-based organisation that provides guidance, advice, and support to the NHS and other healthcare providers in the UK. NICE guidelines are based on the best available evidence and are developed by an independent committee of healthcare professionals, patients, and experts in the field. The aim of NICE guidelines is to promote consistent, high-quality care across the UK and to help healthcare professionals make informed decisions about patient care.