Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes the joints in your body to become stiff and painful. Treatment of Osteoarthritis often involves an all-round smart approach, including medication, exercise and other therapeutic approaches. In this article we’re going to have a look at the movement exercises that have been proven as most effective in controlling inflammation, helping with pain control and decreasing stiffness.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease that results in the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones. OA can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joints. The symptoms of OA typically develop gradually over time and can vary from mild to severe.
There are many possible causes of osteoarthritis, including ageing, repetitive use of the affected joints, previous injury to the joint, or obesity. OA can affect any joint in the body, but it most commonly affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are treatments that can help relieve the symptoms and improve joint function. These treatments include physical therapy, exercise, weight loss (if needed), medications (such as NSAIDs or joint injections), and surgery (in severe cases).
What are its causes and symptoms?
There are many possible causes of osteoarthritis, including being overweight, having joint injuries, and genetics. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joints.
If you are overweight, losing weight can help reduce the strain on your joints and reduce symptoms. Also, be sure to exercise regularly to keep your joints mobile and strengthen the muscles around them. If you have any previous joint injuries, be sure to take extra care when participating in activities that could exacerbate your symptoms. Lastly, if osteoarthritis runs in your family, there may not be much you can do to prevent it; however, early diagnosis and treatment is important to managing symptoms and reducing joint damage.
How can Osteopathy help with treatment of osteoarthritis?
If you’re looking for an alternative or complementary treatment for osteoarthritis, you may want to consider osteopathy. Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that focuses on the musculoskeletal system.
Osteopaths use a variety of techniques to treat patients with osteoarthritis. These can include gentle stretching, massage, and mobilisation of joints. Osteopathy can help to improve range of motion, reduce pain, and improve quality of life.
If you’re considering osteopathy as a treatment option for osteoarthritis, be sure to consult with your doctor first.
Why is movement important to treatment of osteoarthritis?
Movement is essential for the treatment of osteoarthritis because it helps to keep the joints lubricated and healthy. When the joints are not moving, they can become stiff and painful. Movement also helps to reduce inflammation and improve range of motion.
Movement tips to help with the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Exercise is essential for treating osteoarthritis and maintaining joint health. However, it’s important to choose the right kind of exercises. Low-impact activities are best, such as swimming, bicycling, and using an elliptical trainer. These exercises don’t put unnecessary stress on your joints.
Strength training is also important for people with osteoarthritis. It helps build up the muscles around your joints, which can protect them from further damage. Aim for two or three days of strength training each week.
If you’re just starting out, there are some things to keep in mind when exercising with osteoarthritis. Make sure to warm up before starting any activity. This will help reduce stiffness in your joints and prevent pain. Once you’re done exercising, cool down with some gentle stretching.
It’s also important to listen to your body and rest when you need to. Don’t push yourself too hard – this can actually make your symptoms worse. If you have a flare-up of pain or swelling, take a break from exercise until it goes away.
With these tips in mind, you can start incorporating exercise into your osteoarthritis treatment, good luck and we hope the above helps you in your day to day lives.
