Specialized Orthopaedic Physiotherapy

MUST KNOW FACTS about Knee osteoarthritis (OA)👇

☑️FACT #01: Although OA is more common as you age, it can and does affect people in their twenties and thirties as well. Up to 50% of youth and young adults will develop OA within 10-15 years of a joint injury. This means they have to live with OA longer, which may result in greater disability, and decrease in quality of life. For this reason, young people with a joint injury need to reduce their increased risk of OA.

☑️FACT #02: There is NOT a strong relationship between OA symptoms (including pain) and the structural joint changes seen on the x-rays or MRI scans. In fact, some people's x-rays can show a lot of joint change, but they experience very little pain. This means that relying on information from scans alone can be unhelpful. X-rays, scans and blood tests are only required if the doctor needs to rule out other causes of your joint pain.

☑️FACT #03: Experiencing pain is complex and NOT directly related to the structural changes in your joint. More pain does not mean more structural changes in the joint. Your pain experience is influenced by your emotions, mood, anxiety, stress, poor sleep, fatigue, level of activity, and inflammation at the site.

☑️FACT #04: There are positive, active things you can do to help with the pain associated with OA, such as walking, strengthening and balance exercises. Only about a third of people get worse over time and some see an improvement in pain and disability. Most people will experience periods when their pain is better/ worse but it doesn't worsen overall. Your physiotherapist will be able to guide you on how to keep active.

☑️FACT #05: Exercise and movement are the SAFE and best defence against OA. They act as a joint lubricant and help keep joints healthy. Many people avoid using their painful joints for fear of making it worse. But, when we don't move our joints, they become more stiff and the muscles become weaker. Talk to your physiotherapist about the right exercises for you.

☑️FACT #06: OA is NOT caused by the joint "wearing out" over time due to use. OA is a disease that interferes with how the cartilage in our joints repairs itself. OA is not inevitable and not everyone with develop it as they age.

Content credit: www.world.physio/wptday

⁉️To wear a knee brace or not⁉️

For KNEE PAIN due to OSTEOARTHRITIS, some studies SUPPORT the use of knee brace while some DON'T.

👉While there are both, pros and cons of wearing a knee brace, my advice for OA knee patients is:
"Wear the knee brace if you find it comfortable and gives you atleast some pain relief. You may choose to wear the brace during painful activities like prolonged standing or walking to act as a support, while you can remove it for the rest of the day."