Problems associated with Osteoarthritis

OA will often develop slowly and some people may not experience symptoms but the following are common in individuals with OA:

  • Joint pain during or after activity
  • Transient stiffness in the morning or after rest
  • Swelling and stiffness in a joint, particularly after activity which may be due to bony deformity such as osteophyte formation
  • Flexion contractures
  • Joint crepitus (cracking or clicking) or tenderness, or both
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Reduce mobility and exercise tolerance

The benefits of The Bambach for Osteoarthritis

When Sitting on The Bambach Saddle Seat

  • The hips are at an angle of 45-degree flexion in external rotation and abduction. In this position, the individual is balanced and secure with dynamic postural control allowing him or her to move in all planes easily.
  • In this sitting position the hip joint is in its position of maximal joint surface contact (closed pack position) where there is maximum contact of the head of femur with the acetabulum (ball and socket joint of the hip). This position is of most comfort and stability.
  • This position places the limbs in a mid range position which is beneficial in maintaining muscle length and normal tone. This is important in maintaining joint range of motion and joint stability and preventing muscle contractures.
  • By providing secure pelvic control. The Bambach Saddle Seat can be finely adjusted so the pelvis is stabilised in its upright, neutral position. It then follows, as the spine responds to the correct pelvic angle that it can be active in its natural upright curves.
  • A clear midline assists maintenance of balance and symmetry. This assists in activating the muscles of postural control in a balanced way which allows the development of a symmetrical posture reducing the risk of spinal deformities and further degeneration of the vertebrae.
  • The individual sitting upright is an active posture rather than a passive collapsed position. Conventional seating will cause the individual with OA to slump forward in a kyphotic posture which, if unaddressed, can lead to further degeneration of the vertebrae and neck and lower back pain.
  • Partial weight bearing can be encouraged through to standing from a half-sitting position, which stimulates lower limb proprioception (sensory feedback), mobilizes the joint and improves muscle tone. This also facilitates transfers from sitting to standing.
  • Being in a position of half standing also means that the individual does not have to go through the whole range of hip/knee joint movement to stand up or sit down which can lead to pain and swelling caused by degeneration.
  • Facilitation of independence in sitting and other motor activities. This will limit the effect the condition has on the individual's ability to carry out activities of daily living and limit absence from work where sitting for long periods is needed for their job.
  • Thoracic, abdominal and pelvic spaces are maximized resulting in improved lung and internal organ function and circulation.
  • Retraction of the shoulder girdle into the neutral position means that upper limb tasks and fine motor activities are facilitated meaning that self care activities, computer work and hobbies are more easily performed.
Osteoarthritis

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, degenerative disorder of unknown cause. It is characterised by a gradual loss of articular cartilage however it is widely seen as a disease of the whole joint, commonly affecting the hips and knees.

It is the most prevalent form of arthritis, with a worldwide distribution. It has been reported that in England and Wales between 1.3 and 1.75 million people have symptomatic OA. Data from the Arthritis Research campaign suggests that up to 550 000 people in the UK have sever knee OA and 2 million people visited their GP in the past year because of OA. As a cause of disability, such as walking and stair climbing, in the elderly in the west, OA is second only to cardiovascular disease.

OA is a multi-factorial process in which mechanical factors have a central role and is characterised by changes in structure and function of the whole joint. In individuals at risk, local mechanical factors such as misalignment, muscle weakness, or alterations in the structural integrity of the joint environment (such as meniscal damage) facilitate the progression of the disease. There is currently no cure for the condition and therapeutic strategies are aimed at reducing pain and improving joint function.

OA is classified into two groups:

Primary OA - can be localised or generalised, the latter more commonly found in post menopausal women, with the development of Heberden's nodes

Secondary OA - due to an underlying cause such as trauma, obesity, Paget's disease or inflammatory arthritis

OA can occur in any synovial joint in the body but is most common in the weight bearing joints - the hips and knees are especially susceptible to OA. The slow deterioration of the articular cartilage can lead to the development of chronic pain on standing and walking which often requires surgical intervention i.e. joint replacement.

QA is also common in the Spine with deterioration of the intervertebral disks leading to lower back and neck pain stiffness.