Physio Tullamore are experts in dealing with chronic pain such as Osteoarthritis. Here are some recommendations and a short video showing some basic exercises to help a patient suffering with an arthritic knee.

At Physio Tullamore we describe Osteoarthritis like a “rusty gate” so by keeping a joint moving will reduce the stiffness and in doing so decrease pain.

1. Exercise everyday. Do exercise you like and you are more likely to do it, even if this is only a short walk. Exercise is good for your general well being (heart and lungs), your mood, your joints and muscles, your balance and your bone health. Pace your activities (doing small bits often or taking the middle road) rather than overdoing or under doing
2. Try and use normal movement for everyday activities like lifting, sitting, standing, bending and reaching. When you have pain, sometimes you forget how to move normally or you overprotect the joints. This can make functioning normally difficult and can make the pain worse
3. Good posture can help reduce pain and improve function: gentle stretching and relaxation are often useful options here and changing positions frequently rather than staying in the one position for extended periods
4. Modifications of everyday equipment can reduce stress on joints: a good example is raising the height of a chair to make standing and sitting easier, or using a smaller saucepan that is not so heavy to avoid joint strain
5. Planning your work and social activities ahead to help you think about ways you can better manage challenging situations or pain flares

Below is a short video for patients suffering with Osteoarthritis of the knee.