Understanding Osteoarthritis and Why It’s Not Just “Wear and Tear”

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint conditions and it often comes with fear and confusion. Let’s break down the basics and clear up some myths shall we?

1. What Is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis affects the joints, where bones, cartilage, and other tissues meet and move. It’s not simply the joint “wearing out.” Instead, think of it like a joint that’s working overtime to repair itself. This extra repair work can cause inflammation, pain, and stiffness.

Research shows that OA isn’t just about aging or overuse, and it’s not always destined to get worse.

2. How Is It Diagnosed?

A health professional can diagnose osteoarthritis based on your symptoms, history, and a physical examination.

Scans (like x-rays or MRIs) are not required for diagnosis, they’re mainly used to rule out other issues.

Scans might show things like:

• Swelling or inflammation

• Changes in cartilage

• Bone spurs

• Loose ligaments

  
  

But here’s the key: what’s on the scan doesn’t always match how you feel.You can have changes on a scan and no pain, or pain with no major scan changes. A scan is like looking at the cover of a book, it doesn’t tell you the whole story inside.

3. Is It “Wear and Tear”?

The old idea that OA is “wear and tear” is factually incorrect.If you think of your joints like a car’s tires, the more you drive, the more they wear down, it’s easy to see why people believe rest is better.

But your joints aren’t tires, they’re living tissue. They respond to use by getting stronger, not weaker. Avoiding movement can actually make things worse, leading to stiffness, weakness, and more pain. This is a self-perpetuating cycle. Movement is medicine for your joints.

4. What Can I Do About It?

There’s a lot you can do to help manage and even improve osteoarthritis:

• Stay active - Regular movement keeps joints healthy.

• Exercise smart - A tailored, progressive resistance training program from a health professional can build joint strength and confidence.

• Maintain a healthy weight - This reduces load and inflammation.

• Use pain relief when needed - Heat packs, gels, or prescribed medication can help modify painful symptoms.

• Consider surgery only as a last resort - Only if symptoms are severe or not improving with other treatments.

  
  

At Movement in Mind, we focus on education, exercise, and empowering you to move better and feel better. Exercise not only helps your joints but boosts your overall health and wellbeing.

Key Takeaways:

• Osteoarthritis is not a one-way road to joint replacement, in fact there are other things we can address first to help.

• Scans don’t tell the whole story - your symptoms and personal experience matter more.

• Movement is medicine - staying active and strong is one of the best things you can do.