To Operate or Not To Operate. That is the Question.

Watch this highly informative and thought-provoking discussion between Mark Hurworth (Orthopaedic Surgeon) and Ian Dowley (Senior Physiotherapist) about how the decision to operate or not to operate is made. The increasing availability of higher quality radiological imaging often causes a “knowledge explosion” - these images show every little change and irregularity in our bodies. But what is relevant? What is ‘normal’ age-related change and what is actually related to our symptoms? Do these ‘issues’ that have been identified actually need to be surgically ‘fixed’? In a radiological report the complex technical jargon or even the sheer volume of information can be scary and threatening for the patient.

Osteoarthritis, Pain, SurgeryNicole EverettFebruary 23, 2020Osteoarthritis, surgery, exercise

I have arthritis – will I need a joint replacement?

The CHECK cohort study findings indicate that when knee or hip OA is painful, it is the overall severity of the symptoms which increase the likelihood of having a joint replacement, rather than the rate at which these symptoms increase over time. As OA symptoms appear to remain reasonably stable over time, it may be beneficial to postpone primary joint replacement surgery to lower the future risks of revision surgery.

Imaging, Osteoarthritis, Body, SurgeryNicole EverettApril 10, 2019Osteoarthritis, Joint Replacement

Osteoarthritis: Time For Us All to Shift the Needle

With the average age of our population increasing, and with many people also dealing with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, the number of people affected by OA and the disability it causes is also increasing. Fortunately, so has our understanding of this condition. So, what exactly is OA? The Journal of Rheumatology published an excellent article in (April 2018) summarising the best current medical and scientific understanding of the condition we call osteoarthritis. Here is the WrinkleWell summary of the summary.

Osteoarthritis, BodyNicole EverettJanuary 14, 2019Osteoarthritis, joints

Joint Operation - Insight - SBS On Demand

On May 15 2018 the SBS Network in Australia aired an episode of their ‘Insight’ program which highlights the current and ongoing debate amongst health care professionals regarding the effectiveness and appropriateness of surgical and non-surgical alternatives to back, knee and hip surgery. The program features interviews with patients, surgeons, physiotherapists and researchers as they discuss the big question: Is surgery the answer to our joint problems?

Joint Supplements, Osteoarthritis, Body, SurgeryNicole EverettAugust 27, 2018body, joints, Osteoarthritis, Surgery

Baker's Cysts - Not Just In Baker's

Baker’s cysts are a common cause of knee pain seen in the clinics of surgeons, doctors and physiotherapists. They are named after Mr Baker, and are not particularly prevalent amongst bakers. Baker’s cysts are rarely the primary cause of knee symptoms. They tend to indicate that something is going on with the knee, and it is the knee itself that the symptoms are coming from.

Body, OsteoarthritisMark HurworthJuly 5, 2018Knee, Osteoarthritis, Baker's Cyst

Cycling Wins the Race For the Older Adult

Cyclists on the road can be the bane of a car driver’s life! And if we ask the cyclists, aggressive car drivers are equally troublesome! One thing is certain: cycling is here to stay. It is an activity with a multitude of health benefits, and is being suggested as the perfect sport for older adults.

Body, Osteoarthritis, WellbeingNicole EverettMay 6, 2018Cycling, Osteoarthritis

How To Postpone Or Avoid A Total Knee Replacement

A knee replacement is a significant and potentially painful surgery with a lengthy rehabilitation process. This surgery should be considered as a last resort and performed only after all other management options have been exhausted. Find out what you can do to avoid or postpone surgery.

Surgery, Osteoarthritis, Body, Joint SupplementsMark HurworthApril 27, 2018Surgery, Knee, Osteoarthritis

Joint Health Supplements - Fact or Fiction?

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent disease, so correspondingly the desire for a pharmaceutical cure to joint aging is equally strong. Family members, friends, colleagues, doctors, websites, pharmacist will all swear by a product, telling you that this pill or that injection changed their lives and “Really Work!”. But through this cacophony of advice, do any of these products truly work or is it purely a placebo response to a well-crafted sales pitch?

BodyNicole EverettDecember 14, 2017Flex Physiotherapy Joints, Osteoarthritis, Supplements, GlucosamineComment

Too Much Surgery?

Surgical techniques have become more refined and sometimes more experimental, with the number of elective surgeries performed continuing to increase exponentially over the past decades. But is surgery always the answer? Perhaps we have become so caught up in the idea of “progress” that we do not stop to ask whether these procedures actually work any better than non-surgical treatment. Some researchers are now attempting to answer these questions.

Body, SurgeryNicole EverettNovember 20, 2017surgery, subacromial decompression, Osteoarthritis

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