There is no known cure for osteoarthritis (OA). However, there are things that a person can do to make a difference in how OA impacts them. Related to this, there are some treatments available that could significantly relieve the pain.
Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute, led by board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler, provides orthopedic surgery to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and surrounding communities.
Exercise
For joints to remain healthy, they need to be exercised on a regular basis. It is vital to keep moving if a person has osteoarthritis of the knee. Regardless of a person’s fitness level, exercise helps the knee be able to perform routine activities again.
They will need to strike the correct balance between rest and exercise. A majority of individuals with osteoarthritis find that excessive activity aggravates their pain while too little makes their joints harden.
Exercise can strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee, enhance the posture, and help the patient lose weight, all of which can mitigate the symptoms and pain.
It is crucial for the patient to continue with their exercises even if they start to feel better. Reducing or stopping the amount of exercise could cause the symptoms to recur.
A physiotherapist can recommend the best exercises to the patient. However, the patient will need to build them into their daily routine to derive the most benefit from them.
The physiotherapist may recommend the patient to exercise in a hydrotherapy pool. This can enable the joints and muscles to function better. The water in this pool is warmer than in a normal swimming pool, and this can be very relaxing and soothing. Sometimes hydrotherapy is also called aquatic therapy.
Exercising and swimming in water can be helpful for painful joints as the water takes the weight off the body. This reduces the strain on the knees while still allowing the patient to keep moving.
It is vital to balance this with weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, as this will enable the bones to remain strong. There are numerous exercises that have been proven effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee.
Range of Movement Exercises
Range of movement exercises are good for posture and helping to keep the joints flexible. These exercises can be as simple as stretching, ensuring that the joint moves through a range of position that comfortably stretch the joint’s reach and flexibility slightly further each time.
Strengthening Exercises
This type of exercise is vital to enhance the strength of muscles that control the knee and help protect and stabilize the joint.
It has also been proven to reduce pain as well as prevent the knee giving way, decreasing the chances of falls. The patient should try to perform strengthening exercises on at least two days a week if possible.
Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise refers to any exercise that increases the pulse rate and makes the person a bit short of breath. Performing aerobic exercise can help an individual in various ways. It is good for overall health and well-being.
It can reduce pain by promoting the release of pain-relieving hormones known as endorphins. It can also enable a person to sleep better. Various types of aerobic exercise include swimming, cycling, and walking.
The activity should be hard enough for a person to get out of breath but still be able to have a conversation. It is ideal to perform two hours and 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per week. This can be spread out over the week and does not need to be undertaken all in one go.
Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas for orthopedic surgery.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about the Knee and Shoulder Institute procedures & treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada board-certified surgeons Steven C. Thomas, MD and Gregory T. Bigler, MD. Contact the office today click here.
Serving patients from and around greater Las Vegas, Lake Havasu, Bullhead City, Mesquite, Pahrump, Nevada.