Health expert advises arthritis patients on exercise, injection as treatment

On May 17, 2022

Health expert advises Nigerians suffering from arthritis to engage in regular exercise as part of management of the ailment which is important in all the stages.

According to Mr Chijioke Ofili, Physiotherapist and Medical Practice Manager, Nikea Consultants Ltd, “The first line of management will be exercise programmes including walking and swimming.

“The second will be an injection to the knee, not just steroids, rather the ones with constituents and fluids mimicking the natural knee joint fluids,’’ he said.

Ofili said, the third line of management may be knee arthroscopy and the last may be total knee replacement called Knee Arthroplasty. Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

Exercises as part of management were important in all the stages and lines of management, it was important that an exercise Programme for knee osteoarthritis should not cause a significant increase in knee pain while doing or following the movements.

According to him, an exercise for knee osteoarthritis should contain a mixture of cardiovascular exercise, important for maintaining overall fitness and weight management.

“Commonly, people with knee osteoarthritis find an exercise bike to be a good option as its non-weight-bearing and encourages knee movement.

“Cycling has the added benefit of helping flush synovial fluid around the knee, which helps keep the joint surfaces lubricated and is good for the health of the articular cartilage.

“Swimming is also another cardiovascular exercise option people with knee osteoarthritis commonly find beneficial,” Ofili said.