The 3 best conservative treatments for knee osteoarthritis??
- Exercise Therapy
Exercise has the best evidence for long term management of knee osteoarthritis.
By exercising under the supervision of us a FightingFit Physiotherapy you will improve your strength, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, balance, proprioception and much more.
Strengthening of the muscles in your back, core, glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves will:
- Restore optimal muscle length and strength
- Improve joint biomechanics
- Improve physical conditioning
- Decrease the load through your knee joint/s
- All resulting in the easing of painful knee joints
DON’T STRESS! The type of exercise, intensity and volume you do will be tailored to your ability, fitness level, exercise experience and symptoms to ensure you get results.
- Weight Control
As obesity is a strong risk factor for increasing symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.
Losing 10% of total body weight using a combination of diet and exercise will significantly improve symptoms and quality of life.
I work closely with our Dietitian at Fighting Fit Physio to ensure your diet assists our exercise aims.
- Hydrotherapy
Water based exercise or hydrotherapy is an excellent choice for individuals wanting to begin an exercise routine to help manage their knee osteoarthritis if exercising on land is too painful.
While in the water there is less load from our bodyweight and gravity being placed through the knees which creates supportive environment for us to exercise within.
I love to use hydrotherapy to begin exercising as it allows to build strength and conditioning in the water which will convert to exercise and improved function out of the pool.
If you found this information useful please share it with your friends and family.
If your suffering arthritis in your knee then come into the clinic and I will assess your knee, give you a diagnosis and most importantly a plan to ease you pain and improve your function.
Here is to healthy knees!
Kyle