Osteoarthritis is bone and joint inflammation

Osteoarthritis or OA is the most common type of arthritis in elderly people with 1 in 2 people over the age of 65 having one or more joints with the disease affecting mainly the cartilage in the joints.  When cartilage wears down, the shape becomes uneven and less lubrication can happen as a result of weight bearing.  Osteoarthritis not only painful but also has financial implications, such as the cost of treatment and loss of income as well as other lifestyle implications such as higher risk of depression and anxiety.  For more information please visit our Osteoarthritis page.

Spinal osteoarthritis

Spinal osteoarthritis can be in the lower back or in the neck and symptoms may present as weakness, pain or numbness in the arms or legs. Due to the narrowing of joint spaces in the spine when cartilage wears down, the shape becomes uneven and less lubrication can happen as a result of weight bearing. Bony spurs can form over time breaking off in the joint to give more pain or locking.  Often stresses on the spine are a result of poor posture and the degeneration of muscles and joints.

Treatment of osteoarthritis

The best way to treat Osteoarthritis by getting your joints as healthy as they can be, stretching them and moving them to their best range of motion and strengthening the muscles around the joint to help protect it.  A healthy diet, regularly exercise, fish oil supplements, braces and re-training of gait can all be additions to making your joints pain free. Osteoarthritis joints need to maintained – if you stop – it gets out of hand. Your physio should start you off in the right direction and then empower you with the knowledge and motivation to keep up the good work!.