Osteoarthritis – that’s on older person ‘thing’ right?

Osteoarthritis – that’s just a condition that affects older people – isn’t it?

No, not at all. Osteoarthritis can affect people at any age, any health, any fitness level.

Osteoarthritis is a major cause of pain in the hip, knee, shoulder, hands and feet. The main symptom is a chronic dull ache followed by decreased mobility of the affected joint. Pain can range from a mild ache through to strong immobilising pain. Osteoarthritis is caused by inflammation and damage to the cartilage that protects the end of your bones where they connect inside a joint. The surfaces become rough, causing degeneration to the surrounding soft tissues – cartilage, ligaments, tendons and muscles. This leads to pain and further inflammation which then causes an altered use of the joint. The joint becomes stiff and painful leading the person to avoid its use. This then leads to pressure on other areas of the body to compensate. 

So what can you do about it? Therapy is a great start!

The role of the Myotherapist is to decrease pressure in and around the affected joint, decreasing friction and inflammation leading to a greater chance of the body repairing itself and/or minimising further degeneration. Corrective exercises can then be given to retrain proper use of the joint and avoid further injury. Myotherapy methods are very effective in pain relief, increased joint mobility and better quality of life to the arthritis sufferer.