What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a condition where the main problem is damage to the cartilage which covers the ends of the bones. Normally the smooth, slippery cartilage helps the joint to move smoothly. In this type of arthritis, the cartilage becomes thinner and rougher. The bone underneath then tries to repair this damage but sometimes overgrows, altering the shape of the joint and causing some inflammation and pain.
Nearly three quarters of people with osteoarthritis report constant pain and nearly a third of sufferers reduce their work hours or give up work because of their condition.
Who is at risk of Osteoarthritis
In the UK osteoarthritis is a condition that mainly affects people over the age of 45. The main joints affected are the hands, knees, hips and back. If you have had previous damage to a joint, such as ligament damage or other trauma to a joint then you may be more likely to develop osteoarthritis in that joint.
Other factors that would make a person more likely to develop osteoarthritis are being overweight, or placing excessive loads on a joint over a long period of time. The pain that can be felt with osteoarthritis tends to be worse with movement and better with rest. It may also feel stiff to start moving and then get better as you move.
How can seeing an osteopath help?
Our expert osteopaths treat people suffering from joint pain as a result of osteoarthritis nearly every day. They are experts at assessing joints, how they perform, and why they may be causing pain. If you do suffer from joint pain that is a result of osteoarthritis, our osteopaths can help relieve your symptoms with a combination of ‘hands on’ treatment combined with carefully prescribed exercises and so tailoring a programme of treatment that is best suited to your needs.
Where required our osteopaths can also help you with lifestyle advice on weight loss and how to safely exercise to help reduce your symptoms, as exercise has been shown to be crucial in helping reduce pain and disability in people with osteoarthritis.
Do you want to know what is causing your pain and if we can help? Why not take advantage of our new patient assessment introductory offer to get you started towards a tailor made recovery plan for only £19.
Are you in a lot of pain and want to get better as soon as possible? If so then why not book in for a new patient consultation, with treatment on the day, for £72.
We are also there to help you from home. Take a look at our suite of exercise resources and advice sheets which you can easily download and use from home.
Sources for this text
WHY CHOOSE ALIGN BODY CLINIC?
At Align our focus in on providing expert, up to date care to patients in Bath and the surrounding areas to help them relieve their pain and achieve the most active life possible. Here are just a few of the ways we do this;
- We support your recovery, tailoring your treatment to your goals and a pace that works for you
- We combine exercise and hands on treatment giving you control over your recovery
- Our team of friendly, experienced osteopaths are available when you need us
- Our treatment is clinically based, practical and delivers tangible results
- We offer a low cost new patient assessment for just £19 so you can see for yourself who we are and how we work, with no obligation or risk
- We are continually researching new methods of treatment and where appropriate adapting our practices
- We can provide treatment quickly and offer an easy online booking system so you can arrange the help you need when it suits you
Still unsure? Don’t take our word for it, read some of the feedback from patients about how we have made a difference to their lives below.
How we can help
View the list of treatments we provide from our Bath clinic
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Need more information?
Read our other articles and advice about arthritis.
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Help and advice for other common symptoms