Making a joint effort
| Published date | 14 June 2022 |
| Publication title | Huddersfield Daily Examiner |
Dr Paul Chrisp, director for the Centre for Guidelines at NICE explained: "This is because new evidence has shown there was little or no benefit to people's quality of life, pain or psychological distress, and particularly in the case of strong opioids, there was evidence that they can cause harm in the longer term, including possible addiction."
Instead, guidelines say doctors should first offer tailored therapeutic exercise to all OA patients (for example, local muscle strengthening and general aerobic fitness exercises).
OA affects an estimated 8.75million people over 45 in the UK and, according to the charity Versus Arthritis (versusarthritis.org), it's the leading cause of pain and disability.
"It's characterised by joint pain, swelling and reduced range of movement due to a breakdown of cartilage in the joints," says Miriam Daurat, chartered physiotherapist at Our Health Hub (ourhealthhub. uk). "Common sites include the back, neck, hips, knees and hands."
In a survey by Versus Arthritis, six in 10 people with osteoarthritis said the pain, joint stiffness and reduced mobility associated with the condition had a negative impact on their overall enjoyment of life.
For many people with OA, even a simple task such as putting on the kettle results in extreme pain. So is prescribed exercise a step too far?
"Due to pain levels, some people with osteoarthritis may be fearful or reluctant to engage in exercise," recognises Disha Shah, a musculoskeletal physiotherapist at Ascenti (ascenti.co.uk) the UK's biggest independent physio provider.
"This is completely normal, especially if you experience pain when doing everyday activities. But studies show that exercising will have many benefits, including helping to reduce pain and joint stiffness, weight loss, plus improved mood and self-esteem."
It's important to expect that exercise can be difficult to begin with, she adds, and in some cases joint pain may increase when you start a new regime.
OA-stiffness is in the waking physiotherapist, Miriam "So take it steady and adjust your programme accordingly with the help of a professional such as a physiotherapist," adds Disha.
So what sort of exercises are usually best for people with osteoarthritis? "Everyone with OA is different so exercise...
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