Many of us know someone who has it and several of us live with it every day. This disease affects around 27 million people in the U.S. (around 20 percent of the population!) and as osteoarthritis will worsen with age, most of the people who have it are over the age of 60.
So, what is osteoarthritis exactly? Well, each of your joints has a layer of tissue that protects your bones. It’s part of the complex system of tissues, ligaments, muscles and fluids that allow the bones meeting at your ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows, shoulders and fingers to rotate freely – to glide rather than grind. Over time, this protective tissue will wear down – sometimes as a result of poor alignment (and the bones in the joint not lining up ideally as they move) and as our bodies age. This wear and tear happens gradually, and while we may not notice much early on, it will get worse over time.
If osteoarthritis goes ignored, the symptoms will worsen faster and you might find yourself becoming less and less active. By investing some time and effort into physical therapy you can help ease the pain and maintain joint mobility – and the sooner you start, the better. Our therapists can work with you to increase the strength in the muscles surrounding your joints and will teach you how to manage your pain. We’re here to help you gain back some of what you’ve lost and help keep your joint health for longer over the course of your life.