Understanding Osteoarthritis
- jmichealgoodchild
- Oct 28
- 2 min read
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and usually affects joints like the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
It involves gradual changes to the joint cartilage and surrounding tissues, but it’s not just about “wearing out.” It’s a normal part of how our joints age and adapt over time.
Pain often comes from stiffness, muscle weakness, and inflammation around the joint — all things that can improve with movement, strength work, and the right management plan.
🏋️♀️ What
Really
Helps
1️⃣
Stay Active — Don’t Avoid Movement
Gentle, regular exercise helps nourish joints and keeps the surrounding muscles strong. Activities like walking, swimming, cycling, or Pilates can help reduce stiffness and improve confidence in movement.
Even small, consistent efforts make a difference — the key is to find what feels good and keep doing it.
2️⃣
Build Strength
Strong muscles protect and stabilise your joints. For knees and hips, this means focusing on thighs, glutes, and core. You don’t need a gym — bodyweight or resistance band exercises can work wonders when done consistently.
3️⃣
Keep Your Weight in a Healthy Range
Even a small reduction in body weight can significantly reduce joint stress and pain levels in weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees.
4️⃣
Pace Yourself
Overdoing it can flare up symptoms, but total rest can make stiffness worse. Try to find a rhythm — balance movement with recovery.
5️⃣
Get Professional Support
A physiotherapist can assess your strength, joint mobility, and movement patterns to create a tailored exercise plan — one that helps reduce pain and keeps you confident to move.
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
🚫 What Doesn’t Help
Complete rest — this often makes stiffness and weakness worse.
Relying only on painkillers — they can mask symptoms but don’t address the cause.
Thinking it’s “too late” to start — people at all stages of osteoarthritis can benefit from movement and physio-led care.
🧠 The Takeaway
Osteoarthritis doesn’t mean giving up your active lifestyle — it means managing it smartly.
With the right combination of movement, strength, and support, most people find they can move better, hurt less, and feel more in control of their symptoms.
💬 If you’re struggling with joint pain or stiffness and want to stay active safely, get in touch for an assessment by clicking the link below and clicking book now or choose a free advice call if you want to discuss further how we can help
I’ll help you build a plan that works for your body — so you can move with confidence again.
Call now on 07429 097014
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