STADS Physiotherapy
Osteoarthritis
Joints are meant to move smoothly, but with osteoarthritis that becomes increasingly difficult. Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the quality of your cartilage declines, so joints move less smoothly. This can lead to pain, stiffness and limitations in your daily activities. Sometimes a joint can become inflamed, which makes the symptoms worse.
- Specialists in treating osteoarthritis
- Tailored exercise, even when your joint is painful or stiff
- GLA:D programme for knee and hip osteoarthritis
or call 040 – 311 1151 / 013 – 303 0361
No referral neededSeen within 48 hoursContracts with all health insurers
Contrary to what is often thought, osteoarthritis isn’t simply ‘wear and tear’. Several factors play a part, including age, heredity, being overweight and overloading the joints.
Osteoarthritis isn’t wear and tear
The words wear and tear suggest that something is being used up, like the tread on a tyre. That’s not how it works. Cartilage is living tissue that responds to what you do with it: it gets stronger with load and weaker without it.
That explains why the first instinct — taking it easy — backfires. Too little load is just as unhelpful as too much. The skill lies in the dose, and that’s what we help you with.
Where osteoarthritis usually makes itself felt
The knee and hip are the best known, but osteoarthritis also occurs in your thumb, neck, lower back and shoulder. Each joint needs its own approach: a knee you need to keep loading to be able to climb stairs is different from a thumb you use all day.
What we do for osteoarthritis
We start by looking: how do you move, what can’t you do any more, and what do you want to be able to do again? That last question matters more than it seems. Being able to go for a walk again needs a different plan from being able to kneel in the garden without pain.
Then we train the muscles around the affected joint in a targeted way. Strong muscles take over load and make the joint more stable. We build up that load step by step, so your body can adapt without the symptoms flaring up.
We also look at your day: when does it get worse, and which habit could you change? Sometimes an aid is the quickest win. Our occupational therapists can help you think this through and help with the application.
What we don’t do is repair the cartilage — nobody can. What we can do: help you get more done with the same joint, and slow down the decline.
GLA:D for knee and hip osteoarthritis
For osteoarthritis in your knee or hip, we offer GLA:D: a programme from Denmark that has now been studied in tens of thousands of people. It consists of education plus twelve supervised exercise sessions.
On average, participants report less pain and use fewer painkillers. For many people, it’s also a way to postpone or avoid surgery.
When surgery comes into the picture
A new knee or hip is the last step, not the first. If it does come to that, it helps enormously to go in well trained: the stronger you are at the start, the smoother your recovery afterwards. We guide that rehabilitation too.
Together with your GP
You don’t need a referral to come to us. We do coordinate with your GP or specialist when needed, for example about pain medication or if your symptoms suddenly get worse.
How common is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common rheumatic condition in the Netherlands. Almost 1.5 million people live with it. Not everyone has symptoms, but for many people pain and stiffness can have a considerable impact on daily life.
What can you expect with osteoarthritis?
The course of osteoarthritis varies. Symptoms can slowly get worse, but with the right adjustments you can slow the process down and cope better with the symptoms.
A physiotherapist can support you with:
- Exercises to keep joints supple
- Strength training to strengthen the muscles around the joint
- Advice on an active lifestyle and protecting your joints
- Coaching on nutrition and weight management
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
Do you recognise these symptoms?
- Pain in the joints, especially when moving
- Stiffness, especially in the morning or after sitting still for a long time
- Swelling in the joints due to inflammation
- Restricted movement, such as difficulty climbing stairs or getting up
- Creaking joints during movement
If these symptoms are increasing, it’s a good idea to do something about them.
Living with osteoarthritis - Handy tips
- Regular exercise keeps joints supple
- A healthy diet helps prevent excess weight and reduce inflammation
- Use aids such as a walking stick or knee brace if needed
- Avoid overloading, for example from heavy lifting or standing for long periods
- Alternate activity with rest – avoid putting too much load on your joints
- Use heat or cold – heat relaxes muscles, cold reduces inflammation
Exercising with osteoarthritis - Points to watch
Many people think exercise is bad for osteoarthritis, but the opposite is true! Regular, well-paced exercise actually helps reduce symptoms. Keep the following in mind:
- Don’t overload – choose walking, cycling or swimming
- Listen to your body – pain is a signal to stop
- Do a proper warm-up and cool-down – this prevents stiffness
- Take enough breaks – this prevents overloading
Exercises for osteoarthritis
Strength exercises help support your joints and mobility exercises keep you supple. Some good exercises:
- Leg muscle exercises such as squats, lunges and leg presses
- Core exercises such as planks and sit-ups for better posture
- Back exercises such as seated rows and lat pulldowns
- Mobility exercises such as knee and hip stretches
Gym training and osteoarthritis
Want to train at the gym? These are suitable exercises:
- Cardio training Cycling, walking or the cross-trainer helps keep the joints supple.
- Strength training: Use light weights or resistance bands for exercises such as leg presses, seated rows and light dumbbell exercises.
- Mobility exercises: Stretching exercises and stretch sessions reduce stiffness and promote smooth movement.
- Aquatherapy: Exercises in water reduce the load on the joints.
Questions first?
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Not sure if we can help, or have a question about your treatment or reimbursement? Feel free to get in touch.
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