Arthritis is a common condition which causes pain, swelling and inflammation and often stiffness in the joints of the body. There are over 200 different conditions. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but there are many other types including ankylosing spondylitis, gout, psoriatic arthritis and reactive arthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Osteoarthritis is the medical term for 'wear and tear' of the joints. This is often diagnosed by X-ray or MRI. Everyone has wear and tear so this is nothing to be overly concerned about, but it can commonly result in pain. Osteopathy and sports massage can help alleviate this discomfort by minimising muscle soreness and ensuring that the joint in issue (along with the other joints around that area) functions properly, to minimise additional stresses and promote good fluid flow to reduce swelling. In clinic I often see people with foot/ankle/knee/hip/spine/wrist/hand and shoulder OA, all of whom respond well to treatment, exercise and lifestyle advice.