What is Osteoarthritis?
Knee pain is a common occurrence and as we age the likelihood of it developing increases exponentially. Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common types of arthritis within the knee. It is a degenerative “wear and tear” type arthritis. This most commonly occurs in people over 50 years of age, but is also seen in the younger population.
What causes Osteoarthritis?
OA is caused by the wearing away of the cartilage between the joint spaces, which happens slowly over time. This can be attributed to a number of factors such as biomechanical structure and function, activity and history. Inflammation and degeneration of the bone is subsequently caused, and as a result you may find it difficult doing everyday activities such as bending down, and climbing stairs.
What are the symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
You may notice a creaking, grinding feeling between the joints when completing these activities. Arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition and does require assessment from your health professional, as this will increase the likelihood of long term joint preservation as opposed to joint replacements.
How we can help.
In my experience of managing Osteoarthritis, the optimal results are achieved when working as part of a multidisciplinary team. If you are having any knee issues or concerns please give us a call.
At Active Step we treat a wide range of foot and knee conditions. For more information on knee pain or to book an appointment click here, or alternatively give us a call on 01489 881 204 or send us an email on info@activestep.co.uk, and we’ll be happy to help.
Written by Emily Ball, HCPC Registered Podiatrist, Active Step Health
