Many patients believe nothing they do will lessen their discomfort. Let's face it—when you're in agony, you don't want to make it worse. But the opposite is the case. Your pain will actually lessen. The institute insists that physical exertion can help the condition, ease pain and vastly improve the lives of osteoarthritis sufferers.
Nice also called for GPs to refer patients to surgeons for possible joint replacements before they became incapacitated—rather than it being a last line of treatment. They state that the patient’s age, sex, smoking history or whether they are obese should not be barriers to referral for joint surgery.
Physiotherapists provide effective treatment for the symptoms of osteoarthritis and deliver expert advice on physical activity and weight-management strategies to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Nice said overweight patients should be encouraged to lose weight while prescribed drugs should be considered for pain relief. Find a type of exercise you enjoy doing, take some pain relief if needed and get on with gardening, walking or gentle work around the home.
Of course, everyone can benefit from some sort of exercise, regardless of their condition. Get outside to feel the breeze on your face, hear the birds twitter and tread over the earth's surface. Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.
First thing every morning, I do stretching exercises while I stand and bend, and then sit down to sip tea while I stretch my neck, face and back with movements recommended by a physiotherapist. Yes, I have osteoarthritis. Yes, when I sit too long I become stiff. And yes, I agree that daily exercise has kept me mobile. How about you?