27 Jul Physiotherapy and Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is a condition where the cartilage (the cushion between the joints which functions as a shock-absorber) wears away, resulting in the joints rubbing against one another.
Causes:
- Age
- Gender: Women > 55 years old
- Overweight
- Previous knee injury
- Hereditary
- Infection
- Repetitive stress injuries ie. Occupations that require a lot of squatting, heavy lifting, kneeling
- Sports that load the knee joint ie. Soccer, long-distance running
- Other conditions ie. Rheumatoid arthritis, certain metabolic disorders such as excessive growth hormone
Symptoms:
- Gradual onset of knee pain in the mornings and at rest/ inactivity
- Warmth around the knee joints
- Knee swelling
- Knee stiffness in the mornings or with prolonged sitting
- Knee pain with weight bearing activities including difficulty getting in and out of the car and negotiating stairs
- Cracking, clicking or grating sound when moving the knee
- Reduce lower limb muscle strength around the knee
Assessment:
- Your physiotherapist will provide a correct diagnosis of your condition based on your clinical examination, symptom behaviour and history.
- X-Rays can confirm the presence of bone spurs, cartilage and bone damage
- MRI scans can confirm soft tissue damage
Treatment:
Physiotherapy treatments are effective in the management of knee osteoarthritis. More specifically, physiotherapy can help to reduce and or alleviate swelling, pain and knee stiffness. Physiotherapy also aims to improve knee function. Your physiotherapist will prescribe a treatment/ management program tailored to your individual needs.
Book a consultation online
Get in touch with Edgewater Physiotherapy to book an appointment. Our qualified team can help with a range of conditions including knee osteoarthritis and always achieve great results. Contact us today.