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Physiotherapy 'can help osteoarthritis patients'

Wednesday 28th July 2010

People working in a physiotherapy job can play an important role in the lives of those suffering from osteoarthritis (OA).

A study by researchers in the Netherlands, which is due to be published in the August issue of the journal Arthritis Care & Research, revealed that maintaining an active lifestyle can be beneficial to those suffering from OA of the knee or hip.

Home physiotherapy exercises are one of the ways in which OA sufferers can improve both physical function and pain, the report revealed.

Lead study author Martijn Pisters MSc, commented: "Better adherence to home exercises and being more physically active improves the long-term effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with OA of the hip and/or knee."

Jo Cumming, helpline manager for UK charity Arthritis Care, stressed the importance of carrying out clinical research into new areas of treatment for OA.

She added that such studies offer "new hope" to people living with the condition.

Written by Matthew Horton