Physiotherapy is instrumental in managing Osteoarthritis. It is the most common chronic condition of the joints and affects 48 per cent of Australians over the age of 50.

Associate Professor Joanne Kemp, APAM, Associate Professor Christian Barton, APAM, Dr Allison Ezzat, Dr Danilo de Oliveira Silva, Joshua Heerey, APAM and Dr Marcella Ferraz Pazzinatto present five discussion points about the role of physiotherapy in the diagnosis and management of osteoarthritis.

The Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) has highlighted key messages from the 5 facts article featured in the May edition of InMotion and produced this infographic. Click on the image below to access a printable A3 file.

About the Authors:

Associate Professor Joanne Kemp is a titled APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist and senior research fellow at the Latrobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre. She is co-project lead for GLA:D® Australia with an interest in non-surgical, exercise-based interventions to slow the progression and reduce symptoms associated with hip pain and osteoarthritis.

Associate Professor Christian Barton is a physiotherapist and a current MRFF Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP), based at La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre. He is the co- lead of the GLA:D® Australia Program and leads education through the Translating Research Evidence and Knowledge (TREK) initiative.

Dr Allison Ezzat is a physiotherapist and postdoctoral fellow at La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre. Allison holds a Canadian Institutes for Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship. Her research focuses on using process evaluation and implementation science to advance the prevention of knee injuries and non-surgical management of knee osteoarthritis.

Dr Danilo de Oliveira Silva is a physiotherapist, post-doctoral research fellow at La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre. His research focuses on understanding the integration among biomechanics, pain characteristics and psychological  aspects  associated with patellofemoral pain and osteoarthritis. Danilo is the development director of the Translating Research Evidence and Knowledge (TREK) initiative.

Joshua Heerey is a physiotherapist and research fellow at La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre. His research has involved exploring the relationship between imaging findings of the hip joint and pain, and identifying risk factors for early hip osteoarthritis in young athletes.

Dr Marcella Ferraz Pazzinatto is a physiotherapist and research fellow at La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre. Her research is focused on the assessment and management of persistent knee pain.

This infographic is a Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) initiative supported by FlexEze – partner of the PRF.