Knee Osteoarthritis
What is knee osteoarthritis (OA)?
Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage
that cushions the ends of your bones wears down
over time. I explain to patients that all of us will
have degenerative changes in our knee cartilage
over time, but this is diagnosed as OA when these
changes result in pain and/ or swelling.
What are the symptoms of Knee OA?
The main symptoms of knee OA are pain, stiffness
and swelling. Pain can present all around the knee
or in one place (usually the sides). The pain is often
worse with weight-bearing activity, such as walking
and stairs. The pain is often better when you rest.
Stiffness normally worsens following prolonged
sitting or lying but can ease off with moving around.
Other signs and symptoms are reduced movement
and the knee may creak or crunch. Over time the
size of the muscles at the front of thigh may reduce
in size as a result of pain.
Ice/ Heat – ice can help if there is acute swelling but
otherwise knee OA prefers heat. A hot water bottle
works very well.
Medication – pain killers and anti-inflammatories
can help manage the pain if it is particularly bad,
but it is not a long-term solution and will not
change the OA itself. It is advisable to consult your
GP.
Reduce the strain on your knees – this can be done,
for example, by pacing your activities, using a
walking stick and using the handrail on stairs.
A Physiotherapist can help advise you on the right
exercise and provide management strategies for
your knee OA symptoms. Various treatments can
also offer relief for the pain.
How to manage Knee OA
Weight management – being overweight
significantly increases the likelihood of developing
OA in the knee. For every pound of excess body
weight you lose, it will reduce four extra pounds of
pressure on the knees! This is calculated through
kinetics and forces during activities such as walking
and stairs (www.arthritis.org).
Exercise – strengthening the surrounding muscles
(quadriceps) will help to support/ stabilise the knee
and has been proven to reduce pain. Strong
muscles will also prevent giving way and reduce the
risk of falls. For examples of strengthening exercises
visit www.versusarthritis.org
Cycling has been proven to be the best form of
aerobic exercise that is least aggravating for the
knees. If you do not have access to a bike, you can
purchase floor pedals.
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist
Experienced Acupuncturist
Expert Assessment
Individual treatment plans
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T: 01386 792126
M: 07801 993125
www.inkberrowphysioacupuncture.co.uk
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