1.  Can you provide us with some insight into conservative management strategies that help improve the quality of life of adults living with knee and hip osteoarthritis?

Amy - "Luckily, being told you have osteoarthritis on imaging of your hip or knee doesn’t mean you will necessarily have pain. There is not a one to one relationship between the two.

We can manage our osteoarthritis symptoms of stiffness, swelling and pain with conservative measures. These include strengthening and balance exercises, lower impact aerobic exercises such as pole walking, cycling and swimming as well as braces and ice. Maintenance of a healthy weight can also help as it takes load of the joint. In consultation with your doctor, joint injection, topical creams and medications can also be added. The Arthritis Society has a nice diagram of options that lay out management for knee and hip osteoarthritis".

2. What is your experience with patients involved in a physiotherapy plan of care prior to receiving a total hip or knee replacement?

Amy - "We will work on maximizing the active range of motion in the joints of the lower extremity. Better range of motion prior can help with post operative range motion. We add functional strength and balance to help with the sense of knowing where the joint is in space. This can help with the feeling of giving out that can occur at times".

3. After you have a new joint, why do you need to work so hard on regaining movement? Isn’t the joint “perfect” ?

Amy - "The surgeon has done his/her part in effectively curing you of the arthritic joint by replacing it with metal and plastic. However, it’s so important that you take that new part for drive with exercises to regain the strength and range of motion of the joint. The joint has gone through trauma to be replaced and will be swollen, weak and likely to become stiff without you moving it often. By working hard with exercises, you build the strength to move the new joint, decrease swelling and decrease the likelihood of scar tissue building up that would limit your movement again".