Osteoarthritis and how physiotherapy can help

Causes of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis always occurs when there is excessive stress on the cartilage of the joint. If the cartilage is already damaged, sometimes even normal everyday stress is enough. What exactly causes osteoarthritis and why it sometimes develops in very young people is not yet fully understood. However, it is assumed that several factors determine the onset and course of the disease.

Possible risk factors for osteoarthritis are:

• Hereditary predisposition
• Metabolic diseases such as diabetes
• Congenital malformations
• Injuries, such as an injury to the cruciate ligament or an injury to the meniscus
• Prolonged overuse, such as obesity, extreme physical activity or strenuous physical labor.

High-profile studies now show that exercise not only relieves pain in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis, but also maintains joint mobility. Physical therapy (PT) is considered a main element of conservative treatment for osteoarthritis in international guidelines, along with weight reduction and pain or anti-inflammatory medications.

According to a study funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, only one in two of more than 3,500 osteoarthritis patients used a physician-prescribed exercise program at least once. Overall, 98 percent of patients in at least once visited a primary care physician.

Physiotherapy treatment options for osteoarthritis

Most importantly, physical therapy is one of the first treatment options as a conservative measure. Physical stimuli such as heat, cold, ultrasound or electrical stimulation can be used. Manual techniques by the physiotherapist to improve joint mobility, as well as active measures such as strength building and balance training to improve functionality in everyday life, guide the course of therapy. Another important factor in physiotherapy is the prevention of osteoarthritis and its progression.

The focal points of physiotherapy are therefore:

• Pain relief
• Anti-inflammatory
• Improved mobility
• Improvement of the quality of life
• Prevention of disease progression

Surgical interventions are only considered in later stages, in cases of severe pain, significant limitations in everyday life and ineffectiveness of conservative therapy. There are several options for this: Arthroscopy or partial/total arthroplasty.

Osteoarthritis can also affect young people and athletes. In addition, we should not forget that a severe degenerative change on X-ray is not necessarily accompanied by severe pain and vice versa. With appropriate therapy, a normal active lifestyle is possible with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is not curable. Once joint wear has occurred, there is no way to reverse it. This makes it all more important to prevent joint wear and tear at an early stage. Sufficient exercise and targeted muscle training are the basis and ultimate prerequisite for healthy joints. In addition to strengthening the muscles, physical activity also contributes to weight loss. Sports that are easy on the joints, such as swimming, are particularly suitable here. If osteoarthritis is already present, physiotherapy can help to eliminate or reduce functional limitations.