Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint condition in Malaysia.
Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis that affects joints. It is also called wear-and-tear arthritis, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative joint disease. It is caused by wearing down the cartilage that cushions and protects the joints from friction and pressure.
There are two types of osteoarthritis: primary osteoarthritis, which usually develops after age 40, and secondary osteoarthritis, which occurs as a result of an injury or trauma to an existing joint. Osteoarthritis typically leads to pain, stiffness, swelling, loss of function and poor quality of life for those afflicted with this condition.
Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint but the most commonly affected areas are the hands, fingers, shoulders, spine (typically at the neck or lower back), hips and knees. The symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the disease. Some symptoms include pain in the joints, inflammation, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, swelling of the joints, stiffness of the joints, muscle weakness and fatigue.
Age is one of the most common causes of osteoarthritis. Other causes can cause osteoarthritis as well, such as joint injury or arthritis. Joint damage can also be caused by a number of factors, including past injuries, such as torn cartilage, dislocated joints, or ligaments, injuries, joint malformation, obesity and/or poor posture.
How can our physiotherapist help with osteoarthritis?
Our physiotherapists are trained in different areas such as manual therapy, exercise therapy, electrotherapy and sports rehabilitation. They may give you osteoarthritis treatments depending on the severity of your symptoms and their location such as:
- Soft tissue manipulation (STM)
- Stretching and strengthening exercise
- Heat and cold therapy
- Knee joint traction therapy
After the first treatment session, you are encouraged to speak with your physiotherapist about the latest evidence-based treatments that you can try at home in order to minimize your risk of complications or re-injury.