Osteoarthritis

Almost all of us know someone who has been affected by arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition that commonly affects women. There is no cure, but there have been great strides in management and treatment.

Osteoarthritis is characterized by pain, stiffness, and limitations in range of motion. Mechanical irregularities, erosion of joint tissue, and bony enlargement are some of the common changes. For some people it is a minor annoyance, but for others OA can be a disabling condition. Although OA can occur in any joint, it usually affects one or more of the following areas: hand, shoulder, neck, lower back, hip, and knee.

The likelihood of OA increases as we age. It is estimated that nearly 75% of people over the age of 60 will experience OA. Although it is common, OA is not an inevitable part of the aging process.

In people over 65, OA is the most frequently cited reason for limiting physical activity. This is particularly alarming because inadequate physical actvity is implicated in a host of serious physical problems, from muscle and bone degeneration to heart dsease. Quality of life may suffer too: by limiting mobility and function, OA can contribute to isolation, dependence, and depression.

Whether an individual's case of OA is mild or more severe depends on many factors including age, genetics, and injury. Most of these things are out of our control, but we all have a say in how we personally respond. Positive attitude combined with exercise and knowledge can all be beneficial.

Exercise and Osteoarthritis

Exercises for strength, flexibility, and range of motion are the cornerstone of successful arthritis management. Many exercises can be easily performed at home with no special equipment. Generally speaking, low impact exercises are more desirable. Examples of these include: walking, biking, golf, and cross-country skiing.

Aquatic exercises and swimming are wonderful options because the water offers support for the joints and prevents abrupt high-impact movements. The water also offers gentle resistance that can help to build strength. Many local pools offer a variety of aquatic classes.

Education and Self-Managment

There are several strategies that you can use to cope with osteoarthritis on a day to day basis.

• Pace yourself and conserve your energy. People with OA often function better when they break their days' activities into small doses followed by brief bouts of rest. Energy conservation may involve rethinking your home so that you can minimize reaching, twisting, bending, and unnecessary trips up and down the stairs.
• Simplify your work and protect your joints. Examples of work simplification include organizing your kitchen to eliminate unnecessary movement and rearranging your bathroom so that often used items are at waist height. Clothing modifications can also make living with arthritis easier. Examples include elastic shoelaces, orthopedic shoes, and orthotic inserts.
• Control your weight. Excessive weight puts stress on joints. Even modest weight reduction - a loss of 5% to 10% of total body weight - can make a noticeable difference in the condition of your joints.

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Your physical therapist can be a critical part of a multidisciplinary health care team (which may include family physicians, internists, rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons, psychologists, dieticians, and other professionals) to manage your arthritis. The goals of physical therapy in treating arthritis are to reduce pain; to help restore mobility, function, strength, and flexibility; and to prevent unnecessary disability. Physical therapists can also help you learn self-management techniques to give you practical strategies for day to day activities.

Thank you to Team Legacy Physical Therapy

It is hard to believe that it has been over a month since Team Legacy Physical Therapy joined over 66,000 other participants walking in the Race for the Cure downtown on June 13th. This was the first time sponsoring the event for Legacy Physical Therapy. We raised $1365.00 as a group and $3,250,000 was raised in total. Thank you to all of the people who contributed to Team Legacy Physical Therapy, and a special thanks to our team members.