Options Advice Knowledge (OAK), it is a 90-minute group education session delivered by specially trained physiotherapists.
We outline what knee osteoarthritis is and the proven treatments available.
We offer the opportunity for people with osteoarthritis of the knee to learn more about the condition, so you can weigh up the pros and cons of each management option.
At the end of the session, you can choose the most suitable treatment for you.
OAK is about sharing information and experiences. We will also help you to make your own decisions about treatment. We provide up-to-date information about osteoarthritis, what it is and what it is not.
We also bring the science, which tells us which treatments are safe and effective ways of managing knee osteoarthritis. As well as providing information on what local services are available to help you.
Importantly, you and others can bring your own experiences of knee osteoarthritis, how it affects you and what has, or has not been effective in your circumstances.
We all appreciate that people are different. We enjoy different things and have different goals in our lives. Similarly, knee osteoarthritis affects people in different ways. So, finding the right treatments or management plans to suit your needs is important.
That is why at OAK we believe you should be at the centre of making the decision about how you want to manage your knee pain. We know that people who are involved in these decisions are more likely to engage in the treatment and to have a more successful outcome.
You can self-refer to OAK without needing to see a GP or other health professional. Call 07717 695 797 or email the OAK Service. Leave your personal details, such as name, contact information and location and the team will be in touch.
You do not need a formal diagnosis of osteoarthritis and you do not need to have an x-ray to attend.
You may also be invited to attend an OAK session if you are on a physiotherapy waiting list.
The OAK session is suitable for anyone over the age of 45 with activity related knee pain. A diagnosis of osteoarthritis is not necessary, although a diagnosis by a healthcare professional may be helpful in some cases.
A diagnosis of osteoarthritis can be made without x-rays in people who are 45 or over and have:
We used to think that osteoarthritis was all about the bones and its coverings (joint cartilage). But we now know that the condition is more complex than we once thought.
Research has found that osteoarthritis also affects other structures like ligaments, nerves and muscles. This is thought to be caused by changes to the repair process at the joint.
Put simply, osteoarthritis is a result of an imbalance of the repair processes in a joint. This can lead to changes in your cartilage, bone and surrounding soft tissues.
We also used to think that pain was directly associated to the physical changes at the knee joint. For example, the thinner your cartilage was, the worse your osteoarthritis or pain was. But this is not the case. There are many different factors that affect someone's symptoms.
As a result, terms such as 'bone on bone' and 'wear and tear' are inaccurate.
Osteoarthritis is heavily impacted by inflammation and changes in other bodily functions, especially in individuals with excess weight.
Carrying excess weight puts extra strain on joints, especially weight-bearing ones like the knees. This can increase inflammation, worsening osteoarthritis symptoms.
Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce pain and improve mobility. Studies show that even modest weight loss of 5% to 10% can significantly reduce pain and improve function in people with osteoarthritis.
Healthy Cornwall offers resources and programs to help manage weight and Osteoarthritis, including weight management initiatives, physical activity programs, and healthy eating advice.
Exercise is important for managing our general health and wellbeing. It has a number of benefits including things like improved strength, flexibility, fitness, balance, independence, mood, confidence and sleep. It also helps to decrease our blood pressure and can help improve pain.
The key thing is movement is better than no movement. Keeping this in mind it is important to find an exercise that you enjoy as this will mean you are much more likely to continue with it and see the benefits. This could include things like walking, gardening, swimming, cycling, exercise classes, golf, bowls, table tennis, tennis or anything else you enjoy.
Public Health England recommend that everyone should be aiming for 150 minutes of exercise a week. This should be something that gets your heart rate up, and makes you feel a little bit breathless. Along with some exercises that get your leg muscles working. If this feels like too much its best to start with 20 minutes and gradually build this up over time.
There are services locally which you can be referred to from the OAK sessions or by your GP. This includes Healthwise, which is a lifestyle programme in partnership with Cornwall Council designed to help people get active and lose weight.
This service is with all Better leisure centres but is not available in community run centres. However, these centres may also have exercise class options that you may enjoy. It may be worth popping into your local centre and seeing if there is anything you like to try.
The Physiotherapy Service provides a 6-week exercise class for people with hip and knee osteoarthritis. This includes 30 minutes of exercise delivered by physiotherapists that can modify exercise to suit your needs. This also includes 30 minutes of education and self management advice. You can refer yourself to this at your OAK session.
You may wish to refer yourself to physiotherapy for an assessment and discussion of your management options. This can also be completed at your OAK session.
