Understanding Physiotherapy for Osteoarthritis: Your Path to Better Joint Health
How can a physiotherapist help your osteoarthritis?
Professor Kim Bennell, physiotherapist
A physiotherapist has skills and expertise in diagnosing physical problems and then in implementing treatment of the pain and physical dysfunction and impaired quality of life in people with physical problems.
Finding the best physiotherapist for you
Professor Kim Bennell, physiotherapist
Physiotherapists treat a range of problems ranging from neurological problems such as stroke through to paediatric problems or people in intensive care, so it is important to find a physiotherapist that has expertise in muscular skeletal conditions because they'll be the ones that have the most experience in dealing with those problems.
What happens on the first visit?
Professor Kim Bennell, physiotherapist
The physiotherapist will take a detailed assessment of the person that will involve a number of questions about their pain any difficulties that they're having and any goals that they want to achieve from the management it will then involve them undertaking a physical assessment where they look at their muscle strength and their range of motion the way they walk then they will formulate with the person some goals for the management and what they're trying to achieve and then set into place a personalized management plan and treatment that will generally involve exercises and a home exercise program, education and advice, it may involve some hands-on therapy as well as perhaps a use of a gate aid.
How many times will I need to see a physiotherapist?
Professor Kim Bennell, physiotherapist
The frequency of the visits will really depend on the person and what you would expect on subsequent appointments is that the physiotherapist would check out how you're going how have you been going with the home program have there been any issues, have you not been sticking at it or have you, and what are the reasons around that. Then they would reassess and look at how you're going with your walking your range of motion and your strength they would check the home exercises and then they would either progress them they may give different treatments.
