Physical Therapy Can Be First Line of Defense Against Knee Osteoarthritis

When you think of treatment options for osteoarthritis, you probably think of pain medications, supplements like glucosamine, and as a last resort -- surgery. But the recent report about arthroscopic surgery might make you reconsider how you view your options. For many knee osteoarthritis patients, physical therapy should be considered as a first line of defense -- but it's not typically considered first.

Knee pain is often caused by abnormal movements that add stress to a joint. Studies have shown that physical therapy and supervised exercise can improve function for knee osteoarthritis patients and even delay or prevent surgery in many cases. Ask your doctor if physical therapy is appropriate for you. If you decide to give it a try, you can expect a physical therapist to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. After an evaluation, the therapist will recommend specific exercises to improve your range of motion, build strength, and help you work towards certain goals -- for example, returning to your normal activity level and regaining independence. Physical therapy can help you rebuild what loss of physical conditioning strips away.

Related Resources:

• What Is Range of Motion?
• Exercise Helps Osteoarthritis
• Proper Body Mechanics Important for OA Patients
• Physical Therapy Goals for Arthritis Patients

Join the Discussion:

• Join Us in Our Osteoarthritis Forum / Message Board

_{Photo by Eliza Snow (iStockphoto)}