Here we’re going to talk about the basics of Knee Osteoarthritis, some tips of how to help at home and what we can do for you at WPT!
Due to our aging population, arthritis is becoming more prevalent than ever. The most common form of arthritis is Osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis is the wearing down of cartilage and bone in a joint which gradually worsens over time. The knee is one joint where OA is typically seen. OA can cause a feeling of stiffness and pain in joints, which can lead people to avoid moving to prevent pain. If you are someone dealing with knee OA, you don’t need to spend your life sitting around afraid to move. You also don’t need to feel like surgery is the only option. While your OA isn’t going away, Physical Therapy can help to significantly reduce the symptoms you are feeling and delay the progression. At WPT our goal is to keep you healthy and active for as long as possible. High quality evidence suggests that land based therapeutic exercise can reduce pain and improve quality of life for patients with knee osteoarthritis. These positive effects can last for up to 2-6 months after stopping formal physical therapy treatment (Fransen et al., 2015).
The goals of a physical therapy treatment plan for someone with knee OA will involve:
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Decrease pain and inflammation around the joint
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Increase knee range of motion
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Increased the strength of muscles surrounding the knees and hips
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Increase the flexibility of hip and knee musculature
These goals can be achieved through a customized therapeutic exercise program along with manual therapy provided by a Physical Therapist. For help with your knee osteoarthritis, come see us at WPT to be evaluated by one of our Physical Therapists. We take a holistic approach to evaluate your individual needs and address all aspects affecting your arthritis. We spend 60 minutes 1 on 1 with our patients to provide you the best care we can. Together we can tailor a program specific to you in order to keep you active and achieve your goals!
Tips for dealing with Knee arthritis:
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Warm up for the day: If you suffer with arthritis, you know the pain is usually worse first thing in the morning. This can be reduced by performing a few exercises and stretches before getting out of bed in the morning.
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Weight Loss: losing weight results in less forces that are absorbed by your knees daily. Research has shown that for every 1 pound of weight lost there is a 4-fold reduction in load exerted on the knees with every step.
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Consistent exercise: exercising for at least 30 minutes 3-5x per week can improve joint health. It is important to keep moving and make this a long-term lifestyle improvement!
Here at WPT, Knee Osteoarthritis is one of the most common things we treat. We are experts at getting you back to what you love doing and giving you the freedom to move once again! Call us today to find out how we can tailor a plan specific to you to help you achieve your goals.
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