182. Osteoarthritis Isn’t Just “Wear & Tear”… So What Is It, Really?

Send us Fan Mail OA is described as the most prevalent chronic joint disease worldwide, involving progressive degeneration of articular cartilage and sometimes subchondral bone, leading to pain, stiffness, and functional limitations. Rather than simple “wear and tear,” OA is a multifactorial whole-joint condition influenced by inflammatory, mechanical, and metabolic factors, with risk increased by age, obesity, mechanical stress, and joint trauma. The episode reviews how this happens, what physical therapists can do to help patients with this, and how to individualize our plan of care to our patients' tolerance and goals. 00:00 Osteoarthritis Overview 00:56 Defining OA Basics 01:48 Beyond Wear and Tear 03:32 Inflammation and Pain 04:51 Exercise First Line 06:21 Load Management 08:40 Treatment Takeaways 09:39 Wrap Up and Resources Need CEUs? Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT Support the show Studying for the NPTE? Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount. Stay Connected! Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to ptsnackspodcast@gmail.com Join the email list HERE Support the Show: Share the episode with someone who'd benefit. Contributing directly to the "support" link. Thanks for tuning in—your support makes this all possible!