Get it checked at Bodyline Health, Lower Plenty
We see patients from across the Diamond Valley, including Eltham, Greensborough, Montmorency, Rosanna and Heidelberg. No referral needed, free parking, onsite X-ray when clinically indicated and HICAPS claiming on the spot.
Written by Dr Phillip Mifsud, Chiropractor & Exercise Physiologist and founder of Bodyline Health, Lower Plenty. Based on Dr Phil’s own video and clinical experience.
Watch the video
Osteoarthritis or DJD
Dr Phil explains this in under two minutes.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Dr Phil’s simple analogy is a hinge: a healthy joint is like a clean, shiny, smoothly-moving hinge; an arthritic joint is like a hinge that has gone rusty. The real process inside the joint is more complicated, but the picture is a useful one.
What are the symptoms?
- Stiffness first thing in the morning that eases as you get moving
- Soreness after activity such as gardening, painting or a long walk
- Aching in a joint you hurt years ago, such as an old ankle or knee injury
- Reduced range of movement over time
How do you fix a rusty hinge?
You oil it and you move it. The same principle applies to arthritic joints. The strongest evidence for managing osteoarthritis supports two things:
1. Keep the joint active and mobile
Regular movement, done when the joint is not flared up, keeps it lubricated and the surrounding muscles strong. Walking, swimming, cycling and strength exercise all count.
2. Reduce excess body weight
For weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips, losing around 10% of your body weight has been shown in clinical research to significantly reduce pain, in some studies by around half. Less load on the joint means less irritation.
In short: move it or lose it.
How can Bodyline Health help with arthritis?
Our job is to keep your joints moving and help slow the rust setting in. That can include hands-on treatment to ease stiffness in surrounding joints and muscles, a tailored exercise plan you can actually stick to, and advice on managing flare-ups. If an X-ray would help clarify the picture, we have one on site.
Who at Bodyline Health can help with osteoarthritis?
Because Bodyline Health has several disciplines under one roof at 17 Main Road, Lower Plenty, your care can be shared between practitioners who talk to each other.
- Dr Phillip Mifsud (Chiropractor and Exercise Physiologist): joint mobility treatment and an exercise plan.
- Mary Fleming (Physiotherapist): strength and mobility rehabilitation for arthritic knees and hips.
- Ceyda Hart and Lara Kolar (Podiatrists): footwear and foot mechanics that affect knee and hip load.
- Wayne Grant (Naturopath): diet and weight-management support.
- Catherine Farchione (Acupuncture): acupuncture as an option for pain relief.
When to seek urgent medical help
See a doctor promptly if a joint becomes suddenly hot, red and swollen, especially with a fever, or if you cannot bear weight after a fall.
Further reading on osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis (Healthdirect Australia).
Common questions
What is degenerative joint disease?
Another name for osteoarthritis: wear-related change in a joint that causes stiffness, soreness and reduced movement.
Why is my arthritis worse in the morning?
Joints stiffen when they have been still overnight. Morning stiffness from osteoarthritis usually eases once you get moving.
Is exercise good for osteoarthritis?
Yes. Keeping the joint active and mobile is one of the best-supported treatments for osteoarthritis. Exercise when the joint is not flared up.
Does losing weight help arthritis pain?
For weight-bearing joints like the knees, losing around 10% of body weight has been shown to substantially reduce pain.
Can you claim arthritis treatment on a health fund?
If your extras cover includes chiropractic, physiotherapy, podiatry or myotherapy, you can claim on the spot with HICAPS at Bodyline Health.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for individual medical advice. If you are unsure, see your GP or book an assessment.
