Boston, Massachusetts, Luna has physical therapists that specialize in treating patients with osteoarthritis at all stages of development and severity. Our licensed PTs can work with you to develop a treatment plan that will increase your comfort, improve your mobility, and help you return to the lifestyle and activities you love.
Best of all, with Luna, patients can receive physical therapy for osteoarthritis in the comfort of their own homes. Our physical therapists come to you — it’s physical therapy, delivered.
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage cushioning the ends of the bones wears down over time. Cartilage is a firm but slippery tissue that facilitates near-frictionless joint motion, but if it wears down over time, bone may rub against bone. This can result in pain and stiffness in the affected joints.
Because osteoarthritis occurs due to years of stress placed on the joints, it’s most likely to develop in older patients, and thus the risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age. The condition also tends to occur more frequently in obese patients or in patients whose occupations require the performance of repetitive motions, as these conditions can also place stress on the joints.
Osteoarthritis tends to develop slowly and gradually, worsening over time. It most often occurs in the hands, knees, hips, and spine, but it can affect any joint in the body. Although there is no way to reverse the process that causes osteoarthritis, the condition can be effectively managed with certain non-surgical treatments.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Though osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear to the joint over time, there are certain factors that make some patients more likely to develop the condition. For example, genetics can play a role; some patients have a rare defect that interferes with the body’s ability to produce collagen — the protein that makes up cartilage. Other genetic conditions can affect how the bones in the body fit together, increasing stress on the cartilage.
In addition, patients who participate in sports, physical activities, or hold occupations that require repetitive joint movements are at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. Some athletes, especially those who repeatedly damage their joints, are at very high risk, as are patients who work jobs that require repetitive bending or lifting.
Further, being overweight can put additional pressure on the joints, causing the cartilage in the hips and knees to break down faster than it should. Some studies also suggest that excess fat tissue can produce inflammatory chemicals that cause the joints to break down.
The most common causes of osteoarthritis include:
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