Osteoarthritis Care and Management
Published: 06 October 2019
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Published: 06 October 2019
Perhaps the most recognised form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is a chronic condition in which the whole joint is affected, including the bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles.
There are over one hundred types of arthritis. Each type affects the joints in different ways and the degree of pain experienced will vary between patients (Arthritis Australia 2017b).
With its prevalence on the rise in Australia (AIHW 2019) it is essential that you know how to recognise and respond to arthritis in your practice.
Osteoarthritis is a condition resulting in pain, swelling and/or reduction in motion. Like other forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis tends to worsen over time (AIHW 2019).
As the condition progresses, everyday tasks that were once simple can become a challenge. Initially, a person will experience pain during and after physical activity, but as the condition progresses pain will be present during minor movements or even while resting (Arthritis Australia 2017a).
It is reported that roughly 2.1 million Australians (9.0%) are living with osteoarthritis (AIHW 2019).
Three in five people who have osteoarthritis are female and although osteoarthritis can affect people of all ages, the chance of developing osteoarthritis increases considerably after the age of 45 (AIHW 2019).
Socioeconomic factors influence the chance of a person developing osteoarthritis. People living in lower socioeconomic areas had a prevalence rate of 26% compared to 16% for people in higher economic areas – as found in the recent National Health Survey (AIHW 2019).
From 2005 to 2017 there was a 38% increase in the rate of total knee replacements as a result of osteoarthritis (AIHW 2019).
(Arthritis Australia 2017a; Health Direct 2018; Healthy WA n.d.)
(Arthritis Australia 2017a; Better Health Channel 2019)
The following is a list of common symptoms (bear in mind that symptoms will differ depending on the joint affected):
(MSK n.d.; Arthritis Australia 2017a; Better Health Channel 2019)
(Better Health Channel 2019; Arthritis Queensland n.d.)
A doctor will diagnose osteoarthritis from a combination of a patient’s symptoms, their medical history, and a physical examination. An x-ray might show the narrowing and changes in the shape of the joint, however, an x-ray may not be enough to demonstrate how much pain a patient is in. Blood tests will only rule out other types of arthritis (Arthritis Australia 2017a; MSK n.d.).
There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but if managed effectively patients will still be able to enjoy a high quality of life. A patient should create a treatment plan with a general practitioner (GP).
Management options for osteoarthritis include:
(Arthritis Australia 2017a; Healthy WA n.d.)
Exercise is a crucial part of any osteoarthritis management plan. Regular exercise has the potential to improve joint mobility and strength and reduce some of the symptoms caused by the condition (MSK n.d.).
(Arthritis Foundation n.d.)
Encourage patients to acknowledge and express their feelings – it is likely that they will experience a mix of emotions including fear, anger and frustration – this is normal. It may be worth encouraging patients to seek counselling in order to talk and process their emotions (Arthritis Australia 2017b).
Empower your patients with information and resources to understand their particular type of arthritis. This will provide them with a sense of control and will give them a better idea of their treatment options.
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The resource information is a great succinct overview of the disease which many of our resident population are affected by.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disability which cannot be cured but managed with diet exercise and medication
An excellent short article with lots of reference for osteo arithitis and great current statistics
Good resource
Nice quick simple overview
A good informative resource.
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This article was brief but to the point, it was easy reading with multpile bullet points to help digest and summarise key points effectively.
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