Osteoarthritis And Physiotherapy Singapore

Treatments involves a mix of exercise therapy, lifestyle changes and modifications, and painkillers to lessen or manage the pain. If the pain experienced becomes overpowering, patients who have less risk often undergo joint replacement surgery such as hip replacement, knee replacement of the joint with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a very common form of arthritis, and a big cause of long term impairment and disability.

Symptoms include pains (aching, pulling, burning) in joint and surrounding joint structures, loss of mobility and function, as well as decreased use. Sometimes movements will cause a cracking noise (known as crepitus), and accompanied by muscle spasms. Our patients also will often complain that the differences in weather e.g. moving from a cold room to a hot room or vice versa will result in a cramping ache.

OA often affects mobile and more weight bearing joints, such as the mobile hands, or the larger weight bearing hips and knees. As it progresses, the joints enlarge, becoming increasingly more painful and decreasing in mobility, as the day progresses. This distinguishes it from its related cousin, rheumatoid arthritis, that often gets better as time goes by.

Causes Of Osteoarthritis

Causes:

There are two types of osteoarthritis classified: primary and secondary. Primary OA is the chronic degenerative disorder that is related by is not primarily caused by aging (some people in their 80+ or 90+ have no OA at all). Over time, the cartilages in our joints shrink, and becomes less resilient.

Secondary OA is caused by a variety of factors, but ends up with the same pathological results as of the primary OA. Some of the causes are listed here:

1. Joint disorders.


2. Diabetes mellitus.


3. Any/all forms of inflammatory/arthritic diseases.


4. Direct trauma.


5. Joint infections.


6. Ligamental laxity or instability.


7. Obesity.


8. Other syndromes such as marfan's syndrom and wilson's disease.

Treatments

We recommend a combination of treatment approaches and modalities for a more effective outcomes. Lifestyle changes and modification such as adopting a more active lifestyle of healthy eating, exercise and weightloss), coupled with painkillers are some of the long term solutions.

Physical therapy helps to improve function, increase strength and mobility, decrease pain and delay the need for surgery. The exercise therapy that is prescribed by physiotherapists is documented to be more effective than that of a pure pharmaceutical approach. Some of the areas where we will target include balance training, gait correction re-training, and functional mobilization. Hand therapists often prescribe custom-made splints to prevent aggravation and deformities.

How can we help you? For a physiotherapy, hand therapy or occupational therapy appointment, please go here.

To see a list of physiotherapy, hand therapy and occupational therapy conditions we treat in Singapore, please go here.

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