Why Osteoarthritis Is Such a Pain – And How Physical Therapy Can Help

June Newsletter

Persistent joint pain can severely hamper your lifestyle. One of the more common causes of persistent and chronic joint pain, particularly among older people, is osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that causes joint inflammation.

People with osteoarthritis (OA) will struggle with pain and stiffness in the affected joints, making it difficult to live the type of active lifestyle that could help them manage their symptoms. If you’ve been diagnosed with OA, the physical therapists at Iberia Sports & Rehab can help you better understand the condition, ensuring you get the relief you need. Call us today to learn more.

What Is Osteoarthritis? Examining the Causes and Risk Factors

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the world, affecting around 3.5% of the global population–and nearly 32.5 million Americans. Its primary symptoms are joint pain and immobility; if left unaddressed, it can profoundly impact your overall quality of life.

But how do you address OA, a condition with no current cure? We can start by looking at what causes the joint inflammation. The joints in your body contain two materials that help protect the bones: 

• Cartilage, a flexible tissue that acts as a shock absorber and prevents the bones in a joint from rubbing against each other
• Synovial fluid, a substance that lubricates your joint whenever you move

Osteoarthritis occurs when these materials degenerate, causing your bones to rub against each other. Without protection from cartilage and synovial fluid, basic joint movements become painful, the joint tissue becomes inflamed, and your range of motion diminishes.

But what causes that degeneration? Researchers aren’t sure, but it’s tied to aging – your risk of developing osteoarthritis increases as you get older. Around 80% of people over 65 have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in their joints, although not all of them experience symptoms.

Certain factors beyond aging can also increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis. Most of these factors contribute to the tissue degeneration that causes OA:

• Genetics
• Past injury to a joint (particularly a weight-bearing joint)
• Jobs that require repetitive squatting, bending, or twisting
• Excess weight

How Do I Know If It’s Osteoarthritis?

There are many reasons someone might experience joint pain beyond osteoarthritis, so it is important to seek out an expert, such as the physical therapist at Iberia Sports & Rehab, for a diagnosis. That said, certain types of pain and other symptoms could indicate you’ve developed OA, especially if you’re over 50:

• Pain that flares up during activity but lessens with rest
  
• Pain when you press on the joint
  
• Joint stiffness, particularly first thing in the morning – it’ll usually ease up after about 30 minutes
  
• Cracking, crunching, or creaking noises in the joint (officially known as crepitus – those sounds are the bones rubbing together).

When you visit us for your initial appointment, our therapists will conduct a detailed physical assessment that considers your health history, OA risk factors, and symptoms. We’ll also conduct several movement screens that test your range of motion, strength, and balance, which can help develop the best treatment plan for your needs.

Movement: The Best Medicine for OA

It might sound contradictory, but exercise is crucial in treating and managing osteoarthritis. Your joints want to move, and moving them regularly keeps them healthy and lubricated.

For this reason, physical therapy plays a big role in helping you manage osteoarthritis, especially if you want to avoid surgery. We’ll work closely with you to develop a tailored exercise program that suits your needs and ability levels, focusing on low-impact activities like walking, biking, or swimming.

We can also help with other areas of OA management, such as…

• Providing drug-free pain relief through manual therapy techniques.
  
• Working with you to improve your joint’s range of motion so you can move more freely.
  
• Helping you improve your balance and walking patterns. While OA can affect any joint, it’s most common in weight-bearing joints like the hips or knees, which make it difficult for you to move around.
  
• Educating you on OA and various self-management strategies.