How Long Are The Physical Therapy Sessions For Knee Arthritis
If you suffer from knee arthritis, either your doctor or the physical therapist that you work with will explain how long you will need to attend physical therapy. It could be once, twice, or several times a week for a period of a month and a half or longer.
It all depends on the severity of arthritis in which you suffer and how it impacts your day-to-day life.
It also depends on the amount of pain that you experience and whether or not you have had surgery for the condition.
Best Exercises For Knee Arthritis And Joint Pain
Dr. Tim PT, DPT, OCS
Knee arthritis is the most common location of arthritis in the body. It is also one of the top ten most disabling diseases in developed countries. I happen to see several patients each day in my clinic that are suffering from knee arthritis stiffness and pain. Teaching them the proper knee arthritis exercises is key to preventing further advancement of this disease. Additionally, if patients understand the natural progression of knee arthritis, and if they intervene early on in this degenerative process with the right physical therapy knee arthritis exercises and stretches, then many of these cases can be prevented or at least drastically improved.
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- Custom Designed by Dr. Tim, PT, DPT, OCS
What Do Physical Therapists Do For Arthritis Knee Pain
When you meet with the physical therapist, the professional will assess the overall strength of your knee and the mobility associated with the knee. They will also evaluate other areas of the trunk of the body and the lower extremities. This will allow the therapist to determine what areas need treatment. Then, a customized care plan will be created for you by the therapist.
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Take Certain Dietary Supplements
Some nutritional supplements may help relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis, particularly in the first stages of degeneration. The most popular are :
- Glucosamine the building blocks of cartilage.
- Chondroitin present in soft tissue.
- Turmeric a natural anti-inflammatory.
- Ginger also a natural anti-inflammatory.
- Vitamin D crucial for bone, cartilage, and muscle development.
In general, taking supplements following the manufacturers instructions wont harm your health.
But, make sure youre not allergic to the ingredients. Glucosamine supplements, for example, often come from shellfish that many people are sensitive to.
Injections for knee osteoarthritis are a popular option for managing symptoms. The most common are:
Intra-articular corticosteroids
Steroid injections can be effective at relieving pain in the short term and up to 3 months.
But these injections may also speed up the cartilage loss in the long term. So, theyre only recommended for specific cases, like a sudden flare of symptoms or if the pain is very limiting and oral/topic medication doesnt work.
Hyaluronic acid injections
The main compound in this acid is naturally present in our joints. Injecting it may help some people with knee osteoarthritis. However, this is only done if the treatments above have failed.
It may be a safer option than constantly injecting corticosteroids.
Platelet-rich plasma
A Personal Guide For Your Physical Therapy
From pre-op rehab through post-op rehab , youll work with the same physical therapist. He or she will customize a research-based rehab program for you.
Youll complete most of the therapy at home, with periodic visits to Shelbourne Knee Center, which has a fully equipped rehab gym.
Your physical therapist will guide you through the entire process, including:
- Helping you understand what you need to do to have a good result
- Preparing you for surgery, if you need surgery
- Coaching you through pre-op rehab, and if you have surgery, too
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Can Physical Therapy Help Arthritis
Firstly, the best treatment for arthritis pain is exercise. This exercise should be composed of aerobic activities such as walking, running, cycling, and weight training. However, there is not enough evidence to recommend one form of exercise over another. However, exercise programs that get strengths gains of at least 30% do better. Also, exercise supervised by a therapist is more effective. There is less evidence that balance exercises are better. However, it makes sense to add this to a program. Other useful forms of exercise include Tai Chi and Yoga, with more evidence for Tai Chi.
- Younger people although older people also benefit a little less.
- People with mild to moderate arthritis. However, even in severe arthritis, exercise improves symptoms.
- Knee arthritis. There are over 50 studies that show that exercise is the best treatment for arthritis in the knees compared to 12 studies on hip arthritis.
- People combine exercise with other lifestyle factors such as weight loss and education on arthritis.
What Are The Stages Of Arthritis Of The Knee
There are five stages of osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis that affects your knees:
- Stage 0 . If youre at stage 0, your knees are healthy. You dont have arthritis of the knee.
- Stage 1 . Stage 1 means that youve got some wear and tear in your knee joint. You probably wont notice pain.
- Stage 2 . The mild stage is when you might start to feel pain and stiffness, but theres still enough cartilage to keep the bones from actually touching.
- Stage 3 . If youre at the moderate stage, youll have more pain, especially when running, walking, squatting, and kneeling. Youll likely notice it after long periods of rest . You’re probably in a great deal of pain because the cartilage has narrowed even further and there are many bone spurs.
- Stage 4 . Severe osteoarthritis means that the cartilage is almost gone. Your knee is stiff, painful and possibly immobile. You might need surgery.
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How Is Knee Osteoarthritis Diagnosed
To diagnose knee osteoarthritis, your doctor will do a physical exam first. He/she will request a magnetic resonance imaging of your knee joint and maybe some blood tests, too.
That will help them rule out other diseases to provide an accurate diagnosis.
Now, for your doctor to give you a proper knee osteoarthritis diagnosis, theres some criteria you have to meet. It includes :
- Being > 50 years old
- During the physical exam Having knee tenderness, knee noises, normal skin temperature
- In your daily life Feeling knee stiffness for < 30 minutes, some level of pain
- In your MRI Presence of bone spurs, cartilage defects, meniscal tears, lack of joint space
- In your blood tests No signs of an autoimmune disease, healthy synovial joint fluid
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What Are The Surgical Treatment Options For Knee Arthritis
In the case of severe arthritis, surgery may be the best treatment option.
Arthroscopy
In this surgery, the physician will use a miniature video camera and tools to remove any loose cartilage. The result is a smooth joint surface free of loose tissue and minimal internal derangement that can cause irritation.
Arthroscopy can provide significant relief and allow the joint to flow freely through its range of motion. Arthroscopy can be effective in early arthritis and may be used to treat associated conditions that could lead to more severe osteoarthritis down the road, but is typically not effective in advanced osteoarthritis.
Total knee replacement
In advanced cases of arthritis, you may be a candidate for a total knee replacement. The techniques and prosthetics used in this surgery have made significant advances over the past decade. Patients who undergo a total knee replacement are living longer and getting more use out their new joints than ever before.
Learn more about total knee replacement.
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What About Glucosamine And Chondroitin
Glucosamine and chondroitin are components of healthy cartilage. Both are produced naturally in the body. They are also available in supplement form.
Researchers have long studied the effects of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements on arthritis. Many studies have found mixed resultssome have shown pain relief and function improvements compared to a placebo, while others showed no benefit from using these supplements.
Because of the lack of confirmatory evidence on the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, the 2019 ACR/Arthritis guidelines recommend that people with knee OA not use these supplements.
There has been little or no research on the effects of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements in people with knee arthritis related to RA.
Most supplements are generally safe to use. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether it is safe for you to start a supplement with your current knee arthritis treatment plan.
While supplements have few severe side effects attached to them, it is still possible to experience these. Supplements can also interact with prescription drugs, can make other treatments less effective, and affect other health conditions you may have.
What Is Osteoarthritis Of Knee
Knee osteoarthritis is a progressive disease caused by inflammation and degeneration of the knee joint that worsens over time. It affects the entire joint, including bone, cartilage, ligaments, and muscles. Its progression is influenced by age, body mass index , bone structure, genetics, muscular strength, and activity level. Knee OA also may develop as a secondary condition following a traumatic knee injury. Depending on the stage of the disease and whether there are associated injuries or conditions, knee OA can be managed with physical therapy. More severe or advanced cases may require surgery.
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Work On Your Stress Management
We know this is easier said than done, but its true that stress can increase knee OA pain. This is a challenge because people with knee osteoarthritis can be prone to anxiety and depression.
Having knee OA and anxiety/depression also increases :
- The number of doctor appointments and medication
- The likelihood of having surgical complications
- The level of pain after surgery
So, if youre feeling anxious/depressed about your osteoarthritis, please seek professional help. It can save you time, money, and heartache in the future.
Tips for managing osteoarthritis-related anxiety
First, the best thing to do is to go to a psychologist with a specialty in chronic pain. He/she will teach you coping mechanisms to help you reduce joint pain.
They can also help you learn which thought patterns can worsen your symptoms. That way, youll be able to identify them in time to prevent a flare-up.
Also, find time to do activities you love. Maybe its reading, playing a musical instrument, or hanging out with friends. It will have a big impact on your symptoms.
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Total Vs Partial Joint Replacement
There are two types of joint surgeries performed: Total Joint Replacement and partial.
In total joint replacement, the damaged cartilage is replaced entirely with a prosthesis wherein in partial joint replacement only the damaged portion of the joint is replaced. The new techniques of joint surgery have made both these surgeries highly successful. With the aid of robotic-assisted technology, these procedures are done with high accuracy and provide better results.
Partial joint surgery is less invasive as compared to total joint replacement. In younger patients, usually, partial surgery is performed as it requires less surgery and provides quick recovery. Youngsters who perform sports activities often suffer from joint injuries hence they need to get these surgeries to recover fast and get back to their sports activities.
Supplements For Those With Mild Pain
For people with milder pain, Dr. Day suggests trying supplements, such as the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin or the spice turmeric.
The evidence for glucosamine and chondroitin is mixed, but they are safe. So it might be worth trying. However, people with a shellfish allergy may not be able to tolerate them. Any effect wont kick in right away. Dr. Day recommends trying it for six to eight weeks. If you notice improvement, great if not, then stop it, she says.
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, and there is some evidence for its usefulness for painful knee arthritis. You can add turmeric to your food or take it as a supplement. It can thin blood, so people who take a blood thinning medication should not use turmeric.
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Best For Pain: Physix Gear Knee Support Brace
Amazon
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Allows for full range of motion
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Features no-slip silicone grip to keep it from sliding around
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Pull on-design may be difficult for some people to place on
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Hand wash only
Since this sleeve is made of a nylon-lycra blend, its super breathable and provides a four-way stretch. While it will definitely provide your knee with a lot of support, it also allows for a full range of motion. Its super snug and has a no-slip silicone grip that will keep it in place.
Material: Nylon-lycra blend | Fit: Comes in different sizes | Feel: Comfortable stretch and breathable fabric feel
What Is Knee Arthritis
Knee arthritis, also known as knee osteoarthritis or knee OA, is a natural degenerative process where the cartilage at the end of the bones in the knee joint wears down over time. I like to describe it as similar to the wearing down of treads on a vehicles tires. Its a gradual process that happens to everyone, but at different rates depending on a lot of factors.
When were born, the cartilage in our knees is pristine and thick. It helps to protect and pad our joints. However, over time, this cartilage undergoes rubbing and stress in high contact areas such as where the thigh bone and the shin bone meet the knee cap . The cartilage slowly begins to thin in these areas of contact.
The body responds by growing extra small pieces of bone to help protect from excessive rubbing. These areas are called bone spurs.
As this arthritic process continues to worsen, inflammation begins to build in the area causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
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What Is The Best Exercise For Arthritis In The Knees
Exercise is a critical component to care for those that suffer from arthritis. The movements involved in the exercises assist in increasing the stability of the joint, flexibility, and strength.
Arthritis is an immobilizing condition unless you place an emphasis on engaging in regular exercise. The best exercises for knee arthritis include those that increase range of motion, strengthen, and low-impact aerobic exercise.
What You Need To Know
- Knee arthritis occurs when the cushioning cartilage in the joint wears down, making the knee stiff and painful with certain movements.
- Osteoarthritis gradual, age-related degeneration of cartilage is the most common form of arthritis in the knee, but trauma and autoimmune conditions can also lead to cartilage damage.
- The cartilage damage associated with arthritis is irreversible, but there are nonsurgical and surgical treatments that can help reduce pain, increase joint flexibility and improve overall quality of life for people with knee arthritis.
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Risk Factors For Knee Arthritis
- Age. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative, wear and tear condition. The older you are, the more likely you are to have worn-down knee joint cartilage.
- Heredity. Slight joint defects or double-jointedness and genetic defects may contribute to osteoarthritis in the knee.
- Excess weight. Being overweight or obese puts additional stress on the knees over time.
- Injury. Severe injury or repeated injury to the knee can lead to osteoarthritis years later.
- Overuse. Jobs and sports that require physically repetitive motions that place stress on the knee can increase risk for developing osteoarthritis.
- Gender. Postmenopausal women are more likely to have osteoarthritis than men.
- Autoimmune triggers. While the cause of rheumatoid arthritis remains unknown, triggers of autoimmune diseases are still an area of active investigation.
- Developmental abnormalities. Deformities such as knock knee and bowleg place higher than normal stress on certain parts of the knee joint and can wear away cartilage in those areas.
- Other health conditions. People with diabetes, high cholesterol, hemochromatosis and vitamin D deficiency are more likely to have osteoarthritis.
Ial Knee Replacement 110
Like total knee replacement surgery, partial or uni-compartment knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure to resurface a knee damaged by arthritis to reduce pain and improve function. However, unlike a total knee replacement surgery, a partial knee replacement is only performed when damage exists in one compartment of the knee.During the procedure, your surgeon removes the cartilage from the damaged compartment of your knee and then replaces that cartilage and bone with metal coverings that recreate the surface of the joint. Just like in a total knee replacement, these metal parts are typically held to the bone with cement. To finish the procedure a plastic insert is placed between the two metal components to create a smooth gliding surface. The benefits of a partial knee replacement surgery are that its less invasive than a total knee replacement surgery and has a quicker recovery time. Also, because healthy parts of your knee are left in place, partial knee replacements are said to feel more natural than a total knee replacement. Downsides of a partial knee replacement are that another surgery may be needed in the future if damage to another compartment occurs. Also, because over half of people with knee osteoarthritis have damage and deterioration to more than just one compartment of the knee, fewer people are good candidates for this surgery.
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