Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease in humans. It is a degenerative condition (not inflammatory) with the articular cartilage as a target tissue. The most common affected joint is the knee. There are several risk factors as age, female sex, major joint trauma, stress, obesity.

Most of the cases of osteoarthritis are idiopathic, which means no evident predisposing factor. But some of them - secondary, according to underlying conditions such as valgus or varus deformities, unequal lower extremity length and some other diseases.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

The joints involvement is progressive but slow and irreversible. The most involved joints are knee and hip (as weight-bearing joints) and small joints of fingers.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis are:

  • Pain, which is chronic, low-intensity and last several years. The pain usually increases with exercises and relieved by rest.
  • Limited mobility is a progressive symptom as a result of avoidance of pain.
  • Morning stiffness is usual for osteoarthritis and can last up to 20-30 minutes.

Osteoarthritis Treatment

Nonpharmacologic treatment includes weight loss, reduction of joint loading, rest and ice.

This is one of few conditions, where physical therapy is the main treatment. The goals of physical therapy are:

  • Slow progression of the disease
  • Maintain range of motion
  • Strengthen periarticular muscles and avoid their atrophy
  • Reduce underlying conditions, which may result in osteoarthritis
  • Improve physical shape

Drug treatment: only symptomatic with use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

The surgery is the last step in severe and tolerable to treatment cases.

Physical Therapy for Osteoarthritis

  1. Manual therapy, massage in the affected joint area 15-20 minutes for 15 sessions.
  2. Exercises 10-15 minutes 15 sessions, and the best way to continue them constantly at home. Aquatic exercises.
  3. Short wave therapy on the joint. 8-10 minutes. Every day or every other day. 12-15 times.
  4. Low frequency magnetic therapy on the affected joints. 10-15 min every day. 15 sessions.
  5. Ultrasound on the affected joint and paravertebral spine 6-10 minutes on one joint every other day. 12 sessions.

To keep joint in good shape and to slow progression of the disease down you have to do it twice a year.

 

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