Arthritis
Physiotherapy will not reverse joint changes. It does reliably reduce pain, improve what you can do, and frequently postpone surgery by years.
Common symptoms
- , Joint pain worse with activity
- , Morning stiffness easing within 30 minutes
- , Reduced range of movement
- , Grinding or creaking
- , Swelling after use
Common causes
- , Age-related cartilage change
- , Previous joint injury or surgery
- , Years of sustained joint loading at work
- , Muscle weakness around the joint
- , Family history
The scan does not decide your outcome
X-ray findings and pain correlate poorly in arthritis. People with marked changes often function well; people with mild changes are sometimes in real pain.
That is genuinely good news, because it means the joint’s appearance is not your destiny. Strength, movement and load management determine how much it hurts and what you can do, and all three are trainable.
The spiral worth interrupting
The instinct with a sore joint is to protect it. Over months that weakens the muscles supporting it, which puts more load through the joint itself, which increases pain, which encourages more protection.
Reversing that is most of the treatment. We find the loading your joint tolerates today and build from there, patiently, without pretending progress will be fast.
Timing exercise on the coast
Practical and specific: schedule the work for early morning or evening. Midday heat and humidity discourage activity, and a programme people abandon because it is unbearable achieves nothing. Hydration matters more here than most guidance acknowledges.
How we treat it
- , Progressive strengthening around the joint
- , Range-of-movement work
- , Load management and pacing advice
- , Acupuncture for pain relief
- , Walking aid assessment where appropriate
Typical recovery: Ongoing management; most people improve within 6–12 weeks
See a doctor urgently if you have
- !A single hot, red, acutely swollen joint with fever
- !Sudden severe joint pain with no clear cause
- !Marked unexplained weight loss with joint pain
- !Joint pain with widespread rash or feeling unwell
These are not physiotherapy problems. Go to a doctor or hospital rather than booking with us.
Treatments that help
Common questions
Will exercise wear the joint out faster?
No, and this misconception does more damage than the arthritis in many cases. Appropriate exercise strengthens the muscles supporting the joint and is among the few treatments with consistently strong evidence. Inactivity makes arthritis worse.
Can I avoid a knee replacement?
Often it can be delayed considerably, and for some people avoided. Strength work reduces pain and improves function even when the X-ray looks poor. Where replacement is genuinely needed, going into it stronger produces a better result.
Does the humidity affect it?
Many patients report it does, and there is some evidence linking symptoms to weather changes. What is certain is that heat discourages activity, and reduced activity reliably worsens arthritis: which is why we schedule exercise for cooler parts of the day rather than accepting it as a reason to stop.
Book a physiotherapist on the coast
Clinic appointments in Nyali, or a physiotherapist at your door from Mtwapa to Diani. Same-week slots.