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Understanding the latest treatment guidelines for osteoarthritis
Almost everyone knows now that osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in your joints breaks down, leading to pain and reduced movement. It mostly affects loadbearing joints- such as the knees, hips, hands, feet, and the spine.
In this article, we will take you through the gold standard and latest treatment options for osteoarthritis.
Physiotherapy and Therapeutic Exercise
Physiotherapy is usually the first line of defense against osteoarthritis.
The focus of physical therapy for osteoarthritis is on hands-on stretching, strengthening the muscles around your joints and reducing inflammation levels. This allows patients to return to day-to-day activities and participate once again in sports.
Other theraputic exercises and low-impact activities like walking, swimming, and cycling, as well as strength training exercises, are highly beneficial.
Weight Management
Losing weight reduces the strain on your joints, relieving pain and improving movement.
Any weight loss can help, with more significant benefits seen with a 10% reduction in body weight.
Medications and injections
While medications and injections are helpful for moderate to high level osteoarthritis, it is not as effective on its own. Gold standard in Canada is to combine it with physiotherapy for improved patient outcomes.
- Topical NSAIDs: Creams and gels that temporarily reduce pain.
- Oral NSAIDs: Pills that can be used if topical treatments aren’t effective, but they should be taken with care due to potential side effects.
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections, PRP injections, and other combination of injections can help reduce pain for a duration of 3-6 months. We see best outcomes in our clinic when this is combined with a rigorous course of physiotherapy to make the most of the pain-free time period.
Learn more about our approach to joint injuries and osteoarthritis program HERE.
If you have any other questions or need to see us, book an appointment through our website, or give us a call!
