Joint & cartilage
Osteoarthritis — North Vancouver
Stiff knees on the stairs, hips that ache after sitting, hands that don't grip like they used to. Osteoarthritis isn't a sentence to stop moving — the right kind of movement is the single best thing for it.
What it is
Understanding your osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is wear and change in the cartilage that caps the ends of your bones — the smooth surface that lets a joint glide without friction. As it thins, the joint can ache, swell, and stiffen, and over time it may feel weaker or less steady. It most often affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine, and tends to be worse first thing in the morning or after you've been sitting a while.
It usually develops slowly, with symptoms that come and go before they settle into something more constant. Plenty of people have arthritic changes on an X-ray and very little pain, while others have significant pain with modest changes — which is why how a joint feels and functions matters far more than how it looks on a scan.
Several things feed it: age, previous joint injuries, repetitive loading from certain sports or jobs, body weight, joint alignment, and a family history. Weakness in the muscles around a joint is a big one, because those muscles are what absorb load and keep the joint stable. That's also the part we can change, which is why exercise — not rest — is the cornerstone of managing it.
What to expect
Osteoarthritis is something we manage rather than cure — but managed well, most people get stronger, move more freely, and need fewer pain days. Strengthening takes time to pay off: expect to feel real change over six to twelve weeks of consistent work, not a few sessions. Flare-ups still happen, and we'll give you a plan to ride them out without losing ground. If a joint is severely degenerated and surgery is on the table, we'll help you prepare for it and recover afterwards rather than pretending physio replaces it.
Get a plan
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Send us a quick note about what's going on. A physiotherapist — not a receptionist — will read it and reply with what they'd recommend. No commitment to book.
Common questions
About osteoarthritis.
Will exercise wear my joints out faster?+
No — this is one of the most persistent myths about arthritis. Appropriate, progressive exercise strengthens the muscles around the joint, improves how it moves, and reduces pain. Cartilage actually responds well to regular loading. The harm comes from doing too much too fast or the wrong movements, which is what a tailored program is designed to avoid.
Do I need surgery or a joint replacement?+
Most people with osteoarthritis never need surgery. Strengthening, load management, and weight control are the recommended first-line approach, and they work well for the majority. Replacement is reserved for joints that are severely degenerated with pain that no longer responds to conservative care — and even then, going in stronger leads to a better recovery.
Is it better to use heat or ice on an arthritic joint?+
Both have a place. Heat tends to ease the stiffness that's typical first thing in the morning and helps loosen a joint before activity; ice can calm a joint that's swollen or sore after a busy day. There's no single right answer — use whichever consistently makes that joint feel better.
Can physiotherapy reverse the arthritis?+
We can't regrow lost cartilage, and we won't claim to. What we can do is reduce your pain, improve how the joint works, and build the strength and fitness that let you stay active — which for most people is exactly the outcome that matters. The goal is a joint that does what you need it to, not a perfect X-ray.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual presentations vary — assessment findings and treatment plans differ from person to person. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, neurological changes (numbness, weakness, bowel or bladder changes), or a significant trauma, contact your physician or emergency services. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).