Knee Osteoarthritis: Beyond ‘Bone on Bone’

Knee Osteoarthritis: Beyond ‘Bone on Bone’

Knee osteoarthritis is often described as ‘bone on bone’, but that phrase can make the knee sound fragile and surgery feel inevitable. The good news is that knee OA can often be managed with the...
Meniscus Tears: Surgery or Physiotherapy First?

Meniscus Tears: Surgery or Physiotherapy First?

Been told you have a meniscus tear and wondering whether you need surgery? The answer is not always straightforward. Some meniscus tears respond well to physiotherapy, while others may need a surgical opinion sooner. The...
Does exercise ‘wear down’ your knees?

Does exercise ‘wear down’ your knees?

Many patients and some clinicians are concerned that exercise may ‘wear down’ knee cartilage in people with knee osteoarthritis. This concern often arises from the fear that repetitive or high-impact activities overload the knee joint...
Osteoarthritis: an exemplar of why hurt doesn’t mean harm

Osteoarthritis: an exemplar of why hurt doesn’t mean harm

One of the most pervasive misconceptions in health is that pain means injury or damage. The truth is that pain is poorly correlated with damage (hurt doesn’t always mean harm). Not convinced? What could explain...
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How to scare someone with osteoarthritis (unnecessarily)

How do you scare someone with osteoarthritis (unnecessarily)? Tell them things like: ‘You’ve got bone on bone.’ ‘It’s caused by wear and tear.’ ‘It’s only going to get worse.’ Is it time to stop saying such...