Osteoarthritis – Can it be Cured & Reversed?
Blogs, / By Shi Qi Yap
Most of you probably know what is Osteoarthritis. Some of you may know it as the “wear and tear” disease where your cartilage layer wears out.
In our clinic, we have heard many of our patients asking if their osteoarthritis can be cured and reversed.
Therefore, we are going to answer this question and discuss how to manage it in today’s blog.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, also called OA, is a degenerative joint disease associated with a breakdown of cartilage in joints. It is by far the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis affects up to 10 per cent of the adult and 20 per cent of the elderly population in Singapore.
What are the Causes?
Factors that may contribute to the osteoarthritis include:
- Age
The risk of developing OA increases with age. But not always, appear in people over 50. - Joint injury
Any prevois injuries to bone or cartilage or ligament can increase risk of getting OA. - Overuse
Using the same joints over and over in a sport and job can result in OA. - Obesity
Excess weight adds extra stress and pressure on a joint which promote inflammation and finally lead to OA. - Musculoskeletal abnormalities
Malalignment of bone or joint structures can contribute to faster development of OA. - Weak muscles
If muscles are not strong enough to support joint and dissipate the joint stress, it can lead to OA. - Genetics
People with family members who have OA are more likely to develop it. - Gender
Women are more likely to develop OA than men.
Can it be Cured and Reversed?
The answer is NO. There’s no cure for osteoarthritis and the damage to joints that has already happened can never be reversed. However, there are things you can do to manage your pain and improve your symptoms.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis usually can be improved by a combination of treatments. For example, medication, physiotherapy including strenghtening exercise, hot and cold treatment, weight loss if needed, injection of medications into the joint, and use of supportive devices such as crutches or canes. Surgery may be helpful to relieve pain when other treatment options have not been effective.
If you have any more questions or would like our physiotherapists to assess or treat your back pain, feel free to drop us a question, talk to us, or fill in the form below. Do check out our Instagram page too.
Yap Shi Qi
Rehab Therapist
Shi Qi graduated with Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons), awarded by Anglia Ruskin University, UK. Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP®). She practiced as a physiotherapist in a Malaysian private physiotherapy center with a special interest in musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation. Her previous experience inspired her to combine active approach along with patients’ education to optimize the rehabilitation outcome in sports-related injuries and postural pain.
In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, singing, and playing piano.