What is knee osteoarthritis?

Arthritis means joint inflammation. I mean, that is an exact definition of the word. Although, the term is really used to describe degeneration of cartilage and pain at a joint. Knee arthritis (osteoarthritis) is a degenerative condition where the cartilage lining the bones at the joint wear away, exposing the bones surfaces of the bone tissue. The knee is a hinge joint made up of the tibio-femoral joint (where your shin bone connects with your thigh bone), this is the weight bearing joint, and the patella-femoral joint (where your knee cap connects with the shin and thigh bone). Degeneration of the cartilage at either of the joints can occur.

 

What causes knee osteoarthritis?

This is debated, but the cause basically come down to the way you move throughout life and the things which impact this. The principle is, the knee joint is built to handle a certain type of load, when it is exposed to excessive or unideal loads it suffers more. Some factors to consider are weight, previous injury, competency with exercise and sport.

 

What are the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis?

Deep, dull aching pain, limited mobility/stiffness and crepitus (lots of noise) are the most common signs.  

How does Physiotherapy treat knee osteoarthritis?

We treat knee arthritis by helping you to manage the loads that the knee is exposed too. We can often help the most by providing education and advice on correct movement strategies to minimise strain on the knee. We show you how to nail this through movement practice so that you feel confident and have less pain. We may utilise supports like braces temporarily to assist if needed. We also use hands on treatment to fix muscle knots and joint stiffness which can be limiting your movement.  

What will we ask you to do to manage knee osteoarthritis?

We will ask you to learn the new movement strategies that protect your knee and allow full function. It takes time and effort to strengthen the knee and the joints surrounding but the rewards are great! Take control of your knee health and reach out for help today.