Welcome back to part three of our osteoarthritis (OA) series where we are going to look at common myths and misconceptions that surround this joint condition.
Myth:
Running damages the knee joint
Truth:
Research shows that recreational running is not harmful for the articular cartilage in runners without symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (click here for part one in this blog series which reviews knee anatomy if you need a refresher). In simpler terms, this means if you haven’t been diagnosed with osteoarthritis it is safe for your knee joints to participate in recreational running. Furthermore, participation in recreational running may actually have a protective effect against the development of knee and hip osteoarthritis.
Myth:
It is not safe to run if you have knee osteoarthritis
Truth:
It is safe to continue to run if you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. With osteoarthritis the joint may need more recovery time between runs so you may want to space out your runs to allow for sufficient recovery time.
Myth:
Running is going to progress my knee osteoarthritis and make it worse
Truth:
Research states that running does not appear to accelerate the progression of knee osteoarthritis in runners aged 50 years old and over. Osteoarthritic changes occur slowly over a long period of time so be reassured it is safe to continue running!
Myth:
It is not safe to exercise with osteoarthritis
Truth:
Not only is exercise safe for those who have osteoarthritis but it is also recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Exercise can sometimes initially result in some discomfort but long-term adherence to exercise has been shown to have pain relieving effects and be beneficial for our joint health, function and quality of life.
Myth:
I’ve got knee osteoarthritis so that means I’m going to need a knee replacement
Truth:
Surgery is never the first port of call and just because you have knee osteoarthritis does not mean you are destined for a knee replacement. Knee replacements can be helpful when they are indicated but it is worth knowing no treatment option is 100% guaranteed to resolve our pain. According to research, after this surgery 75% report they feel much better, 15% a little better, 4% about the same, and 6% worse or much worse. 10 out of every 100 people choose this surgery in the first 10 years after receiving a diagnosis and 90 out of 100 choose to manage conservatively. Knee replacements are usually considered after a period of time when someone has been regularly exercising (including targeted muscle strengthening), following load management guidance (when to keep going, when to take rests), weight loss if indicated, tried all the recommended pharmacological management options (pain relief) and despite this are still experiencing severe pain that is impacting their function and quality of life. Your Physiotherapist can work with you and guide you along the way of when it may be appropriate to seek an Orthopaedic opinion. It is worth knowing that imaging such as an x-ray is not used in isolation to make a decision regarding surgery. As we learnt in part one and two of this series (click here and here for a refresher) research has shown that the changes seen on an x-ray do not equate to the amount of pain someone may or may not experience. So just because these changes have taken place, does not mean they will be painful, and just because someone is experiencing pain, does not mean they will have severe osteoarthritis changes within their joint. Therefore, an x-ray alone is not helpful in guiding the decision whether or not to have surgery. It is also useful to remember the effects of conservative management can take time so it is good to give these options enough time in the early stages.
In summary
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding osteoarthritis so I hope reading this blog has debunked some of them for you and given you reassurance that it is safe to move and exercise! If you’re unsure where to start, come in and see one of our specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists who will be able to help you understand your problem, how to manage it and help you work towards your goals.