Turn to SEMI to Alleviate Pain and Discomfort From Osteoarthritis

The Osteoarthritis Clinic (or OA clinic) at SEMI offers services to individuals who have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in any part of their body, including shoulders, hands, wrists, neck, back, pelvis, hips, knees, ankles and feet. Osteoarthritis (also known as osteoarthrosis, degenerative joint disease, hypertrophic arthritis and degenerative arthritis) can be a painful condition, often limiting activities of daily living and enjoyment of sport and activity. We have neck and shoulder pain specialists on call, as well as talented sports medicine professionals who cover a whole slew of other areas. We’ll formulate a treatment plan for you and reduce your pain and discomfort!

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is one of the oldest and most common forms of arthritis, and it is thought that osteoarthritis dates back to ancient humans, as evidence of osteoarthritis has been found in iceaged skeletons.

Known as the “wearandtear” kind of arthritis, osteoarthritis is a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is the rubbery part of the joint that is found overlying the hard bones, and provides shock absorption for the joint. The breakdown of cartilage may eventually place extra load on the underlying bone, leading to bony damage as well. Osteoarthritis is known by many different names, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), osteoarthrosis, hypertrophic arthritis and degenerative arthritis.

Who is Affected by Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis affects 1 in 8 Canadians (or about 13% of the population!). Nearly 1 in 100 Canadian adults older than 20 years old have experienced moderate to severe pain from osteoarthritis affecting their daily activities.

Despite the longevity and frequency of the disease, the cause is still not completely known and there is no cure. In fact, many different factors may play a role in whether or not you get osteoarthritis, including age, obesity, joint trauma, metabolic disorders, nutrition intake, overuse and genetics. Your osteoarthritis could be caused by any one or by a combination of any of these factors.

What Does Osteoarthritis Look Like?

There are several stages of osteoarthritis, each affecting the body differently. Here are the two primary stages.

Early Osteoarthritis

In the early stage, cartilage loses elasticity and is more easily damaged by injury or use. Wear of cartilage causes changes to underlying bone, where the bone may start to thicken. The joint lining, or the synovium, becomes inflamed due to cartilage breakdown causing cytokines (inflammation proteins) and enzymes that damage cartilage further to be released.

Advanced Osteoarthritis

In the advanced stage of osteoarthritis, cartilage is completely worn away, and bone continues to thicken, often developing cysts under the cartilage. Bony growths, called spurs or osteophytes, develop near the end of the bone at the affected joint.

What Are Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

Changes in the cartilage and bones of joints lead to:

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Difficulty carrying on with daily activities such as walking, typing on a keyboard, turning your neck, getting out of a chair, or climbing stairs.

How Can the Osteoarthritis Clinic at SEMI Help?

SEMI offers a comprehensive approach to and many stateoftheart treatments for osteoarthritis, and has a multitude of trained sports medicine doctors and other professionals with the expertise to help.

Stage 1:

  • Therapy (Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Osteopathy and Massage Therapy), working on the supporting functions of muscles and the range of motion of joints affected by osteoarthritis
  • Orthotic Prescription, where abnormal foot mechanics that may affect osteoarthritis of the back, hips, knees, ankles and feet are addressed
  • Bracing, which can be used for some joints to add further support, especially the knee and ankle
  • Exercise counselling and prescriptions, to aid in weight loss, flexibility and strength. SEMI also offers oneonone personal training sessions to facilitate weight loss
  • Nutritional and supplement advice to improve diet, specifically in regard to osteoarthritis

Stage 2:

Many people find relief of osteoarthritis symptoms by using one or more of these injection therapies. Injection therapies offered at SEMI include:

  • Viscosupplementation (joint ‘lube’)
  • Platelet Rich Plasma Injections (PRP)
  • Prolotherapy Injections

Stage 3:

Surgery is a last resort to treat osteoarthritis. Sometimes it is required to help advanced stage osteoarthritis. SEMI’s surgical staff are experts in the replacement of hips and knees, the two most common joints needing this procedure due to osteoarthritis.

Are you suffering from osteoarthritis? Contact SEMI to get in touch with highly qualified professionals who can help reduce your pain and discomfort. Our Osteoarthritis Clinic is one of the best in Toronto, and extremely specialized in treating this condition.