Arthritis is a term used to describe inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, where the cartilage (the shock absorber) in weight-bearing joints such as knees and hips start to break down, causing pain and stiffness. This generally worsens with age and is usually more painful in the morning and gets better as the joints start to move and stretch throughout the day.
Common Signs & Symptoms
- Worsening pain while doing prolonged weight-bearing activities, such as walking.
- Pain or stiffness after sitting for a long period of time.
- Pain or stiffness that is worse in the morning upon waking.
- Feeling of popping, cracking, or grinding when moving your joints.
- Swelling after prolonged use.
How Will Physical and/or Occupational Therapy Help?
During a Physical/Occupational Therapy session, you will:
- Strengthen muscles around the knee and hip to preserve the health of the joint and reduce pain.
- Perform range of motion exercises to restore normal motion of the knee and bring back the ability to fully move the knee.
- Education on activity modification for osteoarthritis to help prevent further progression or cartilage loss.