Living with Osteoarthritis

Avoiding obesity. The correct body weight helps to prevent the development of the disease. If there is overweight, the health professionals can help you to decrease it through a suitable diet.

Exercise. Gentle physical exercise, like walking on flat surfaces, swimming and cycling, help in preventing and improving the joint arthrosis.

It is not advised to carry out high impact exercise, since it could worsen the state of the joint and could increase the symptoms of the osteoarthritis.

When there is a lot of pain, it is recommended to have a period of relative rest.

Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy can help to improve the functioning of the affected joint and reduce the pain caused by this disease, by using a physical exercise program adapted and specific for each person and for every type of osteoarthritis, of the hands, elbows, shoulders, spine, hips, knees, and ankles.

The use of electrotherapy devices (such as, for example, ultrasound, analgesic currents, magnetotherapy, etc.) help to decrease the inflammation and pain.

Heat and cold. Heat or cold, whichever gives better relief, should be used for no more than 20-30 minutes a day.

Heat is generally more beneficial in osteoarthritis applied in the form of a bath or with an electric blanket. It is normal to have more pain in the morning, due to the inactivity of the night, and for this reason, a hot bath in the morning is a good way to unstiffen the affected joints.

Cold is good for reducing inflammation and toning up the area. It is useful to apply local cold using bags of ice or cold baths.

The thermal waters of spas also alleviate the pain and allow performing exercises while floating without putting weight on the joints.

Medication. You should not self-medicate. You should take the analgesics, anti-inflammatories, gels and creams, local injections, and drugs that the doctor prescribes on an individual basis to each patient.