Arthritis Treatment

There are many forms of arthritis, the most common being Osteoarthritis. It is the wearing down of joint cartilage through either single or multiple traumas which render the body unable to repair. We all have a degree of wear as we age. Overactivity and poor injury management can also take their toll. It should be noted that excessive inactivity can also be a large factor, stiff joints are not healthy and will wear more quickly.

When you tell your GP or consultant about your pain or lost function he/she may put it down to simple wear and tear, maybe send you for an x-ray to confirm this They may well be right but in some cases the level of wear doesn't equate to symptoms. People can have a mild arthritic change and be in a lot of discomfort. Conversely X Rays can show a large degree of arthritic change in people who actually have little or no symptoms. This is why it is important to seek an experienced physiotherapists opinion before going down the route of surgery.

Physiotherapy can reduce the need for surgery and alleviate the symptoms associated with arthritis, even whilst waiting for surgery. Even if surgery is ultimately required its outcome is improved by good pre-operative preparations with physiotherapy. Acupuncture can be very effective at reducing the pain sometimes associated with osteoarthritis.