Tag Archives: osteoarthritis

Motion is Lotion for the Joints

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Rob Seahorn

A Physical Therapist Discusses Osteoarthritis

Tennessee Orthopaedic ClinicsI’ve been a physical therapist at TOC since 2005 and I’ve seen many patients looking for ways to minimize the discomfort of osteoarthritis.

With OA, the main complaints are pain, stiffness or even a change in the way a joint functions. For instance, you may feel your knee giving away or you start experiencing limited motion. These are all signs and symptoms of OA.

And yes, there are exercises that can help improve the discomfort and pain! From a physical therapy standpoint, I recommend low intensity and low impact exercise.

There is a saying in orthopaedics that motion is lotion for the joints. As we get older, we don’t develop as much synovial fluid (lubrication) for our joints. And what little fluid we do develop isn’t absorbed as well by the articular cartilage. To help minimize these joint changes, it is important to gradually increase activity and perform lower impact exercises such as water aerobics, bike, and treadmill activities. My experience has shown that even making small changes in your daily activities results in major improvements in your overall health.

Strength training exercises are immensely effective as well. Patients should begin with basic isometric exercises. These exercises, which do not increase the force on the load-bearing joint, are a good way to start building your muscle tone.

As your muscle tone improves, you should work on closed chain exercises (where your foot is in contact with the ground) to build strength in your quadriceps. These exercises include small step- ups and ‘sit and stands’ that are performed on an elevated surface such as a tall chair. Strengthening the quadriceps is very beneficial as they have the ability to cushion the knee by absorbing forces.

Rob Seahorn earned his BS PT (Physical Therapy) 1994 from UT Memphis and is also a CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist). He can be reached at 865-633-0259.

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Osteoarthritis

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Harold Cates

It happens to all of us – getting up in the morning and feeling those aches and creaks in our joints. That’s Osteroarthritis and it’s the most common joint disorder in folks 50 and older.

Basically, OA is caused by natural wear and tear on a joint. The joint cartilage that cushions our bones breaks down. When it wears away, all that’s left are bones rubbing together. Ouch!

The causes of OA are usually unknown, however if you are over the age of 50, overweight, have a family history or have had a fracture or break in a bone, you will probably experience OA symptoms in your lifetime.

Those symptoms include pain and swelling of the joint, difficulty moving, loss of range of motion and a crackling noise when you move the joint.

If you exercise on a regular basis, you may notice pain and inflammation during your exercise, but that it diminishes when you are resting. Occasionally, you may even experience joint pain at night when you are asleep.

Harold E. Cates, Jr. M.D.

Harold E. Cates, Jr. M.D.

Sadly, there is no cure for any type of arthritis, although there are ways to control the symptoms and reduce the discomfort. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and NSAIDS are helpful in controlling pain. Steroid injections are also an option and of course, surgery for those whose quality of life has been seriously affected by OA.

Many folks find comfort in massage therapy, physical therapy and by taking daily doses of the dietary supplements chondroitin and glucosamine. Mostly, we simply have to find the right mix of these symptom-controlling measures to determine what works best for us individually.

Overall, the best way to avoid OA is to eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and to know your own body’s limitations.

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