3 Layers of Osteoarthritis Management

While there is currently no complete cure for OA, you can live a great, active life with OA. Being active can actually reduce your symptoms. There are three layers to OA management:

1. Exercise, education and weight control

It is widely agreed upon now that exercise, education and weight control are the absolute best first steps in management. It has been found that in many cases, these strategies alone can be enough to reduce pain and improve function to the point that this is the only step needed. How do each of these help?

Exercise – Exercise helps many of the factors that contribute to pain and affect function. Exercising strengthens the surrounding muscles, which helps offload the joint, moves fluid around the joint, helps reassure the body that it is safe to move the joint (which can reduce pain) and decreases weight overall.

Education – By familiarising themselves with osteoarthritis and the goals of treatment, the person with the condition can take control of their own management, using the joint in moderation and making positive steps to keep the joint healthy.

Weight control – Reducing bodyweight can decrease the overall load on the joint, as well as lower overall inflammation and improve blood flow

2. Medication, mobility aids and hands-on treatment

If exercises, weight control and education alone are not enough, pain medication from the GP, mobility aids and hands-on treatment from a Physiotherapist can be used alongside the first-line treatment strategies.

Medication options may include oral pain medications or injections into the joint area. These provide some short- to medium-term pain relief. The type and amount will be personalised person to person. Importantly, these medications do not fix or preserve the joint or cartilage.

Mobility aids (walking sticks and walkers) can be used to help to help you get around with less pain.

Manual therapy performed by a physiotherapist can also help to reduce pain temporarily, these techniques may include soft tissue massage, joint mobilisation or dry needling.

3. Surgery

Finally, if a combination of first- and second-line strategies are not providing the desired outcome, surgery may be considered. Surgery options will be discussed with an orthopaedic surgeon and will depend on the amount and type of change in the joint. Potential surgery types include full/total or partial joint replacements. The first layer of treatment will still need to be incorporated before and after the surgery to be effective.

Want to learn more? Come to our free in-person education session – Understanding on Wednesday, August 13th at 6:30-7:30pm held at Good Country Physiotherapy (157 Smith St, Naracoorte).

We would love to hear about your understanding and experiences with OA. If you’re able, please fill out this survey. Link to survey: https://unisasurveys.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1TfqNjXYod16bgW

Paper copies of the survey are available from the clinic reception during business hours.

Chloe Little and George D’Agostino

Fourth-year Physiotherapy Students at University of South Australia

Undertaking their Health Promotion placement at Good Country Physiotherapy, supervised by Angela Willsmore