What to expect from physiotherapy for osteoarthritis

Your physiotherapist may ask how joint symptoms affect walking, stairs, sleep, work, or hobbies. They can observe posture, joint movement, muscle strength, balance, and the way you complete useful tasks. Treatment often aims to improve support around the affected joint and make movement more comfortable; it does not rebuild worn cartilage. The plan may be adjusted for a knee, hip, hand, shoulder, or another joint.

Education is part of care. You may discuss pacing, rest between demanding activities, supportive footwear, heat or cold, and ways to change a task without stopping all activity.

Practise the prescribed exercises with the technique and frequency shown by your therapist. A plan may combine range-of-motion work, strengthening, balance, and low-impact aerobic activity. Mild muscle effort can be expected, but tell the therapist if pain lingers, swelling increases, or a movement feels unsafe. Bring a list of medicines and note which activities are easier or harder between appointments so the programme can be tailored.

Contact a clinician promptly for a hot, very swollen joint, fever with joint symptoms, a new deformity, inability to bear weight, or sudden severe pain after an injury. Seek urgent help for chest pain, severe breathlessness, or a cold, pale, numb limb. If progress stalls or symptoms repeatedly flare, arrange a review so the diagnosis and treatment plan can be reconsidered.

Which activities should I modify while my symptoms settle? Which exercises are suitable for my affected joint? How will we measure progress, and what should I do during a flare?