Osteoarthritis
Joints that have been working hard for decades sometimes start to make themselves known.
A knee that aches after a long walk. A hip that is stiff for the first twenty minutes of the morning. Fingers that have become tender and less flexible than they used to be. These are the kinds of things people quietly put up with for a while before realising that they do not have to.
If any of that sounds familiar, you are in the right place.
What is actually going on
Inside a healthy joint, the ends of the bones are covered with cartilage, a smooth, cushioning tissue that allows the joint to move freely and absorb load. With osteoarthritis, that cartilage gradually breaks down. As it wears, the joint does not glide as easily as it once did. The bones can begin to rub against each other in ways they were not designed to, and the surrounding tissues often respond by tightening up or becoming inflamed.
The result is pain, stiffness, and a reduced range of movement that can creep into everyday life without you fully noticing how much you have adapted around it. Osteoarthritis can affect almost any joint, though the knees, hips, hands, spine, and shoulders are the most common.
One thing worth knowing: there is not always a neat relationship between what shows up on a scan and how much pain or difficulty you are in. Some people have significant changes on imaging but relatively mild symptoms. Others have modest changes and are in a lot of discomfort. The scan tells part of the story, not the whole of it.
Why it develops
Age and accumulated wear are the most commonly cited factors, but that does not mean osteoarthritis is simply an inevitable consequence of getting older. Previous joint injuries, the way a joint has been loaded across decades of movement, body weight, genetics, and occupation all play a role. For many people, it is a combination of several things rather than one single cause.
Understanding what has contributed in your specific case matters, because it shapes how treatment should be approached.
How we approach it at BTC
The right starting point is an osteopathic assessment. Osteopathy cannot reverse the structural changes that come with osteoarthritis, but it can make a meaningful difference to how you feel and how well you move. Our osteopaths look at the whole picture. Not just the joint that is giving you trouble, but the surrounding muscles, the way you are loading the joint during everyday movement, and any compensations you may have built up over time to work around the pain. Treatment is focused on easing discomfort, improving mobility, and supporting your quality of life over the longer term.
Depending on what your osteopath finds, shockwave therapy may also be part of the recommendation. It is particularly relevant for certain degenerative presentations or where there are changes in the tendons or soft tissues around the joint that respond well to shockwave. Your osteopath will assess whether it is appropriate for your situation and recommend it where it makes clinical sense.
Ready to book your appointment?
We offer a range of treatments to help you feel your best. Book online,
call us or visit our centre to schedule your appointment.
You do not need a confirmed diagnosis to come in
If you have already been told you have osteoarthritis, that information is useful and your osteopath will take it into account. But a diagnosis is not a prerequisite for booking. If a joint is painful, stiff, or not moving the way it should, that is reason enough to come in. Our osteopaths assess from scratch and will give you a clear picture of what is going on and what is likely to help.
Questions people ask us
Can osteopathy actually help with arthritis?
Yes. Osteopathy does not reverse the changes inside the joint, but it can significantly reduce pain, improve movement, and ease the tension that builds up in the muscles and tissues around an arthritic joint. Many people find that regular osteopathic treatment allows them to stay far more active than they would be otherwise, and that is often the most important outcome.
My doctor has mentioned a joint replacement. Should I still come in?
Absolutely. Many people who are waiting for surgery, or who have been told they are not yet a candidate for it, find that osteopathic treatment helps them manage much better in the meantime. It is not an alternative to following medical advice, but it is a way of staying as mobile and comfortable as possible while that decision is being made.
Does it matter which joint is affected?
Not for booking purposes. Our osteopaths work across all of the joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis, including the hips, knees, hands, spine, and shoulders. If you are not sure whether your symptoms fit, come in anyway.
Related Conditions
Disc herniation: degenerative changes in the spine can affect both the joints and the discs, and the two often show up together. If you are also experiencing pain that travels into the leg or arm, the disc herniation page may be useful alongside this one.
Still Not Sure?
If you're in pain and wondering whether we can help, that's exactly why we're here. You don't need to know what the problem is. You don't need a referral. You just need to take the first step. Book online today or call 020 7733 9944 to speak to us.