Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints. OA can affect any joint, but it occurs most often in the knees, hips, lower back and neck, small joints of the fingers and the bases of the thumb and big toe. , it affects individuals over 50 years of age and is usually unilateral, involving only one knee. However, in some cases, both knees might be involved.

In normal joints, the cartilage covers the end of each bone. These cartilages provide a smooth, gliding surface for joint motion and act as a cushion between the bones. In OA, the cartilage breaks down, causing pain, swelling and problems moving the joint. Therefore, as we get older and improve OA, the protective knee cartilage erodes, allowing bone to rub against bone, resulting in pain and swelling of the knee joint.

Characteristics and clinical presentation

• Knee pain that is gradual in onset and worse with activity,
• Knee stiffness and swelling,
• Pain after prolonged sitting or resting.
• Limited range of motion that affects flexibility
• a harsh sensation felt when bone strikes bone because the protective cartilage has thinned

Risk factors for developing Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee OA is classified as either primary or secondary, depending on its cause.

Primary knee OA is the result of articular cartilage degeneration without any known reason. This is typically thought of as degeneration due to age and wear and tear; however, secondary knee OA is the result of articular cartilage degeneration due to a known reason. Possible Causes of Secondary Knee OA:

• Obesity
• Joint hypermobility or instability
• Malpositioning of the joint, e.g. valgus/varus posture
• Previous injury to the joint, e.g. fracture along the articular surface
• Immobilisation and loss of mobility
• Family history
• Metabolic causes, e.g. rickets

Physiotherapy Management of Knee OA:

• Manual therapy

In the Yorkmed Physiotherapy we provide a Manual therapy approach to improve mobility and reduce pain. Research has consistently shown that physiotherapy management of an osteoarthritic knee that includes individualized manual therapy has improved outcomes in the short and long terms compared to exercise alone.

• Functional Exercise

In the York-med physiotherapy, our registered physiotherapists and chiropractors take the time to complete a thorough assessment to find strength, stability, and mobility deficits that can be addressed with exercise. Exercise programs should also be regularly evaluated and adapted to address the patient’s changing needs. Research also supports a combination of supervised in-clinic exercises and a home exercise program compared to only a home exercise program. In a 2005 study, at 4 weeks post-treatment, patient functional scores had improved by 52% in those that had supervised exercises compared to by 26% in the home exercise-only group

• Modalities

In the York-med physiotherapy we provide various types of modalities to help reduce pain and improve function. Acupuncture, dry needling, ultrasound, interferential current, ice, and heat are effective treatments of knee osteoarthritis when used in combination with manual therapy and an individualized exercise program.

• Taping
• Bracing