Most people with Knee OsteoArthritis (OA) don’t know that exercising is just as good as pain medication in relieving their pain.
Why is this?
A recent survey of doctors in Australia presented that 80% recommended medication as a first line of treatment for OA. When you are diagnosed with OA you were probably told that the joint is wearing out and that its bone on bone. This automatically makes you think that it can’t be fixed. You then believe that the pain is causing damage and stop moving as much and this leads to decreased strength and more pain.
Pain is your bodies protector and your body learns pain. The longer your body produces pain the better it gets and producing it.
You can retrain the pain system.
How do you know if your body is learning pain?
- Your pain could spread
- You feel pain without warning
- It may be getting harder to move properly
- The pain could be set off by your mood
- Old injuries start to hurt again.
If you have only been given medication and no other form of treatment, then its time to make a change. Most people with Knee OsteoArthritis exercise on average 50min per week and this is well below the guidelines for older adults of 150min per week.
What if I told you that exercise won’t wear out your knee, but in fact will help decrease the pain over time. Joints actually need movement to lubricate and be healthy.
Being active does not cause more damage, even if it hurts. As you begin to exercise:
- You get stronger
- Knee joint starts to work more normally
- You feel in control and get confidence
- Your feel less pain
- When you get flare ups you know what to do
- You sleep better and feel better
- Have more energy to do more with your life
See our team today to find your unique program to decreased pain and disability, improve fitness, muscle strength and joint function, while achieving great independence and better management of other chronic conditions.
For more information, please see our FAQs or contact the clinic on 0410 559 856.