Have you been told you have BONE ON BONE? Physiotherapy can help you!

Arthritis is one of the most common conditions seen by physiotherapists across Australia and one of the most misunderstood. Many people assume that joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility are simply part of getting older and there is little that can be done. The evidence tells a different story. 

At Veen Physiotherapy, we regularly support patients living with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other arthritis-related conditions across Bunbury and the South West, helping them move better, manage pain, and maintain their independence.

What is Arthritis and Who Does it Affect?

Arthritis is an umbrella term for more than 100 conditions that affect the joints, bones, and surrounding tissues. The most common forms treated in physiotherapy include:

• Osteoarthritis (OA): the most prevalent joint disease globally, caused by the breakdown of cartilage and joint tissue. It primarily affects the knees, hips, and hands, and is more common in people over 55.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease that causes joint pain, swelling, and fatigue, and can affect multiple body systems if not well managed.
• Psoriatic arthritis: an inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, affecting both skin and joints.

A 2024 systematic review published in PMC found that osteoarthritis affects over 528 million individuals globally, with a notable impact on females aged over 55. The economic and functional burden of arthritis is substantial, but physiotherapy offers a proven, non-pharmacological path to better outcomes.

What Does the Evidence Say About Physiotherapy for Arthritis?

The evidence for physiotherapy in arthritis management is strong. The American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation guidelines for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee strongly recommend exercise as a first-line management strategy. The guidelines note that physiotherapists play a critical role in the appropriate initiation and maintenance of exercise as part of arthritis management, in addition to self-efficacy training, thermal therapies, and splinting where appropriate.

For rheumatoid arthritis, Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology confirmed that physiotherapy, including tailored exercise regimens such as cardiorespiratory training, resistance exercises and neuromotor activities, plays a critical role in improving joint function, reducing pain and fatigue, and enhancing overall quality of life in RA patients.

How Physiotherapy Helps People With Arthritis

At Veen Physiotherapy, our arthritis management approach is evidence-based and personalised to each patient’s condition, goals, and daily life. Treatment may include:

Exercise Prescription

Structured exercise is the most evidence-supported intervention for arthritis. Resistance training, aerobic exercise, and functional movement programmes help improve muscle strength around affected joints, reduce pain, slow functional decline, and improve quality of life. Research confirms that regular resistance exercise may prevent and help control the progression of musculoskeletal conditions including OA.

Manual Therapy

Hands-on treatment including joint mobilisation and soft tissue therapy can help reduce stiffness, improve joint range of motion, and decrease pain in arthritic joints. This is particularly beneficial in the early-to-moderate stages of arthritis.

Pain Management

Physiotherapy for arthritis pain goes beyond treating symptoms. By addressing muscle imbalances, joint mechanics, and movement patterns, physiotherapists help reduce the load on affected joints, tackling the source of pain rather than masking it.

Education and Self-Management

Understanding your arthritis, including what makes it worse, what helps, and how to pace your activity, is a powerful tool for managing symptoms over the long term. Physiotherapists provide education and self-management strategies that empower patients to take an active role in their own care.

Assistive Technology and Bracing

Where appropriate, physiotherapists can recommend and fit supportive devices such as splints, braces, or walking aids that reduce joint stress and improve functional independence.

Can Physiotherapy Delay the Need for Surgery?

We have had clients at our Veen Physio in Bunbury that have reduced surgery for over 2 years+ with Physiotherapy. For many patients with osteoarthritis, physiotherapy can significantly delay or even reduce the need for joint replacement surgery. Early intervention with structured exercise and physiotherapy-led management has been shown to reduce pain, improve function, and reduce the risk of future opioid use, which is a significant concern in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

For anyone looking for osteoarthritis treatment in Bunbury, physiotherapy is the evidence-based first step before considering surgical options.

Physiotherapy for Arthritis in Bunbury and the South West

As a mobile physiotherapy service, Veen Physiotherapy brings expert arthritis care directly to you, at home, in aged care, or wherever is most convenient across Bunbury and the South West. This is particularly valuable for patients with significant joint pain or limited mobility, where travelling to a clinic can be a barrier to accessing care.

We work with patients living with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and other arthritis-related conditions, providing personalised, evidence-based physiotherapy designed to help you manage your symptoms and maintain your independence.

If you or a family member is managing arthritis in Bunbury or the surrounding South West region, contact Veen Physiotherapy today or email hello@veenphysiotherapy.com.au to arrange an assessment with an experienced Bunbury physiotherapist.

References

Kolasinski, S. L., Neogi, T., Hochberg, M. C., et al. (2020). 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10518852/

Lawford, B. J., Bennell, K. L., Haber, T., Hall, M., Hinman, R. S., Recenti, F., & Dell’isola, A. (2024). Osteoarthritis year in review 2024: Rehabilitation and outcomes. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 32(11), 1405–1412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2024.08.001

Wang, Q., Ye, W., Ni, Y., & Jin, Q. (2022). Physical therapy as a promising treatment for osteoarthritis: A narrative review. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9614272/

Szilagyi, I. A., & van der Laan, M. (2024). Physiotherapy and occupational therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: Bridging functional and comorbidity gaps. ScienceDirect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152505

Arthritis Foundation & American College of Rheumatology. (n.d.). Guidelines for osteoarthritis treatments. https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/more-about/guidelines-for-osteoarthritis-treatments