Arthritis

Background:

  • Arthritis is a very common condition in Australia affecting people of all ages and from all walks of life.
  • There are over 100 different types of arthritis, but the three most significant are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
  • Arthritis affects the joints where two or more bones meet and invariably impacts an individual’s quality of life.
  • Arthritis related problems include pain, stiffness, inflammation and damage to joint cartilage.
  • As the population in Australia ages, the number of people with arthritis is growing.
  • It is widely thought that arthritis is simply a consequence of age; but it is known that arthritis is NOT a natural part of ageing- it is estimated 2.4 million working age people are affected by arthritis.
  • Arthritis is the major cause of disability and chronic pain in Australia, with 3.85 million Australia’s affected.
  • Arthritis is not yet curable.

Physiotherapy for Osteoarthritis:

  • Research suggests that early intervention can delay the onset or progression of the disease and it is estimated that early intervention will reduce the number of new cases of osteoarthritis by 500,000 within 15 years.
  • Working with your physiotherapist here at the Sports and Arthritis clinic we can tailor a unique program for each individual encompassing education and exercises that can be applied to everyday activities.
  • By strengthening and correcting daily movement patterns, participants will train their bodies to move properly, prevent symptom progression and reduce pain.
  • Recent research has highlighted a physiotherapy intervention program reduces arthritis progression by 32%.

Reference: https://www.arthritisaustralia.com.au