Degenerative arthritis or osteoarthritis : an overview
WHAT IS IT?
Degenerative arthritis or osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in the general population. Some forms of arthritis have very rapid progression, while others develop very slowly.
The surfaces of most bones in the human body are covered with a cartilage layer whose role is to facilitate movement at the joint and decrease friction between the connecting bones. Osteoarthritis is caused by an abnormal degeneration of the joint’s cartilage over time.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by an inflammation of the articular cartilage followed by the appearance of small bony growths that hinder movement at the affected joints.
Indeed, with the wear and tear and the gradual disintegration of the cartilage, the bones then rub against each other, which creates inflammation and results in pain, stiffness and possibly a loss of mobility in the affected joint.
The joints of the body most commonly affected are those that must support a large portion of the body’s weight, i.e. the hips, knees, feet and spine.
However, other joints, notably the shoulders, ankles and wrists may also be affected. Osteoarthritis of the fingers is also quite common.
SYMPTOMS:
In particular, the following symptoms are found to be associated with osteoarthritis:
- a dull, deep pain that can increase with activity but is also present at rest
- joint stiffness that occurs after a period of rest (i.e., when getting up in the morning or after staying in a same position for a long period of time)
- swelling in the affected joint or joints
- a feeling of crepitus felt when moving the joint
- a loss of range of motion at the joint
RISK FACTORS:
- Genetic factors (family history)
- Age
- Obesity
- Lack of physical activity
- Repeated use of a joint in a sport
WHAT DO PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENTS CONSIST OF?
The main role of physiotherapy in regards to arthritis is to work towards reducing the pain and preventing further worsening of the condition. In order to reduce the pain and inflammation, treatments will begin with the use of electrotherapy modalities (such as ultrasound or TENS), ice, proper education regarding the activities that may worsen your condition and thus that should be avoided, and if applicable, the use of taping to provide further stabilization to the joint.
Then, your therapist will use a wide array of manual therapy and myofascial release techniques, and will prescribe effective stretching and range of motion exercises to prevent further decrease in the mobility of the joint. A detailed exercise strengthening program will also be provided in order to develop the musculature surrounding the affected articulation and thus provide better stabilization to the joint
