Blog

Knee and hip osteoarthritis are very common conditions that affect ~10% of the population of British Columbia. There are a lot of misconceptions about the condition and its management.

It is often inappropriately labeled as a “wear and tear” condition but it in fact involves a variety of processes. The biggest danger involves the idea that using the affected joint can make it worse. It is often assumed that recreational running can increase your risk of developing knee and hip osteoarthritis. We now know that recreational runners can benefit from participating in regular running and have a reduced chance of developing knee osteoarthritis.

Is Exercise Safe?

In short, yes! The phrase “Exercise is Medicine” is not an empty slogan. Exercise has been repeatedly shown as a very effective intervention that can reduce pain, improve function and quality of life.

The biggest difficulty is often finding a safe starting point for anyone suffering from pain and stiffness. Regular physiotherapy can be a great starting point even if surgery has already been scheduled. We typically see a pattern: the better your function before surgery, the better your function after surgery. Working with a physiotherapist is a great way to design an individualized program to get you started on the right path and help address your specific needs.

Iyad Salloum, MPT, IMS