Arthritis — Physiotherapy in London & Essex
NICE-aligned physiotherapy for osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis affecting the knee, hip, hand, and spine. Therapeutic exercise, weight management support, and education to ease pain and restore function. Self-referral, no GP letter needed, at our Liverpool Street and Wickham Bishops clinics.
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What you're seeing
The concern
Why it happens
What drives it
- Age-related cartilage wear under cumulative joint load — most common in the knee, hip, hand, and spine
- Previous joint injury such as a meniscal tear, ligament rupture, or intra-articular fracture (post-traumatic OA)
- Excess body weight loading the lower-limb joints — the strongest modifiable risk factor for knee osteoarthritis
- Reduced strength and movement around the affected joint, often following a period of inactivity
- Family history of osteoarthritis, with a genetic predisposition particularly for hand OA
- Inflammatory and rheumatological conditions (rheumatoid, psoriatic, ankylosing spondylitis) — a different disease process, managed with your rheumatologist
Treatment approach
How Amanda treats it
Physiotherapy
Price on enquiryTherapeutic exercise, education, and manual therapy is the NICE NG226 first-line treatment for osteoarthritis at every stage; most patients see meaningful improvement within 8 to 12 weeks.
See treatment detail →Exercise Rehabilitation
Price on enquiryA progressive, individually loaded strengthening programme builds the muscle support around an arthritic joint, improving shock absorption and function over time.
See treatment detail →Pilates
Price on enquiryLow-impact, controlled movement maintains range, strength, and confidence for hip, knee, and spinal arthritis — a sustainable way to keep active long term.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Common
questions
Can physiotherapy actually help arthritis, or does it just mask the pain?
It does more than mask pain. Strengthening the muscles around an arthritic joint improves shock absorption and reduces the load passing through the joint, which genuinely changes the underlying picture. NICE NG226 recommends exercise for everyone with osteoarthritis at every stage, including those awaiting joint replacement. Benefits typically build over 8 to 12 weeks.
Should I avoid exercise if I have arthritis?
No — the opposite is true. Inactivity worsens both joint pain and general health for people with arthritis. NICE recommends a combination of strengthening, aerobic, and range-of-motion exercise for osteoarthritis. We design the programme around what your joint currently tolerates and progress it as you improve. Some discomfort during sensible exercise is normal and does not mean harm.
Will I definitely need a joint replacement?
Most people with osteoarthritis never need a replacement. Surgery is reserved for cases where pain and disability remain severe after good-quality conservative care — structured exercise, weight management, education, and sometimes an injection. If surgery becomes appropriate we will say so, support a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon, and continue your rehabilitation afterwards.
What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is mechanical wear of the joint, usually worse with activity and easing with rest. Rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis are autoimmune conditions causing prolonged morning stiffness, swelling, and fatigue, and are managed medically by a rheumatologist. We co-ordinate exercise and function alongside that care; if we suspect inflammatory arthritis we will refer for assessment.
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The Physio Rooms • 280 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street, London EC2M 4RB
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks