Joint replacement surgeries are a common treatment option for worsening osteoarthritic (OA) pain and dysfunction.
The most common joints that are surgically replaced are:
- The knee
- The hip
- The shoulder
Often this has been recommended by your GP, who refers you to a surgeon and the decision is made without any further discussion.
Did you know that physiotherapy is a conservative treatment option for the exact same issue?
Often if you have been told you have OA, you may have also been told that “you should not exercise this part of your body”, or “it is worn out”, or “there is nothing else you can do, it needs to be replaced”.
This is not the case at all.
The body changes over time, and joints can become inflamed (which when chronic and confirmed on an x-ray is diagnosed as OA), but they can also be settled down with appropriate management. Often the pain you may experience is due to the underlying inflammatory nature of the issue, if we can effectively identify and avoid the aggravating factors and involve your GP for some anti-inflammatory medications it will greatly improve your overall symptoms.
Physiotherapy can help in numerous ways, and in some cases the improvement is so great that surgery is often delayed or avoided completely. A well designed treatment plan can help identify strength and functional deficits, balance impairments and other contributing factors that can all be addressed and improved upon, ultimately leading to greater functional capacity and hopefully quality of life.
A lot of surgeons are now even referring their clients to a physiotherapist prior to having a planned joint replacement, for a pre-operative strengthening program usually in the 6-12 weeks prior to the operation. This gives us enough time to see significant changes in the identified deficits and most importantly leads to better post-operative outcomes and a quicker recovery time.
We have numerous services that can be of benefit for osteoarthritic joints: physiotherapy consultations, 1 on 1 exercise rehab, semi-private exercise rehab classes (with an individualised program), balance class and hydrotherapy.
If you have been told you have an arthritic joint, or you need a replacement surgery we suggest you give us a call on 6281 2499 to make an appointment for a Free Initial Assessment with one of our physiotherapists to determine if we can help you reach your health goals.
Author: Jamie Scott, Physiotherapist (BHM, M.Physiotherapy)
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