Joint pain or stiffness making it harder to stay active and do the things you enjoy?

Arthritic pain can affect everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, exercising, working or simply getting moving after sitting for a while.

At Westway Clinic, we help people manage joint pain, stiffness and reduced mobility, with treatment and rehabilitation focused on keeping you moving and maintaining your independence.

Our Redhill clinic offers osteopathy and physiotherapy for appropriate musculoskeletal problems and is conveniently located for patients from Reigate and the surrounding Surrey area. Westway’s existing arthritic-pain page currently focuses on improving mobility, reducing stiffness, strengthening supporting muscles and maintaining function.

What Do We Mean by Arthritic Pain?

Arthritis is associated with joint pain, stiffness and difficulty moving, but symptoms can vary considerably between people and between different joints.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK. It commonly affects the knees, hips and small joints of the hands, although other joints can also be affected.

Common symptoms include:

• Joint pain
• Stiffness
• Reduced movement
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Clicking, grating or crackling sensations around the joint
• Difficulty with everyday activities

Some people’s symptoms are relatively mild and intermittent. For others, pain and stiffness can have a much greater impact on mobility and everyday life.

Which Joints Can Be Affected?

Arthritic pain can affect different parts of the body.

Knees

Pain or stiffness may make walking, using stairs, standing from a chair or exercising more difficult.

Hips

Hip pain and restricted movement can affect walking, getting in and out of a car, putting on shoes or staying active.

Hands & Fingers

Pain and stiffness in the smaller joints can make gripping and everyday hand movements more difficult.

Spine & Other Joints

Age-related joint changes can also occur around the spine and other joints, although pain should not automatically be assumed to be caused by arthritis.

A proper assessment is useful because joint pain can have many possible causes.

Arthritis Doesn’t Mean You Need to Stop Moving

Current NICE guidance identifies therapeutic exercise as a core treatment for osteoarthritis, tailored to the individual and potentially including local strengthening and general aerobic exercise.

The NHS similarly describes regular exercise as one of the most important treatments for osteoarthritis.

For some people, exercise may initially cause a little more discomfort. NICE advises that consistent exercise remains beneficial over time, helping reduce pain and improve function and quality of life.

The aim is therefore not to protect an arthritic joint by avoiding movement altogether.

It is to find the right type and amount of movement for you.

How Westway Clinic Can Help

The aim of treatment is not to claim that we can reverse or cure arthritis.

Instead, we focus on the symptoms and physical limitations that are affecting you.

Depending on your assessment, your plan may include:

Improving Movement

Your practitioner can assess how the affected joint is moving and whether stiffness or limitations elsewhere may also be relevant.

Strengthening Supporting Muscles

Building strength around an affected joint can help improve function and make everyday movement easier.

Therapeutic strengthening is a core part of current osteoarthritis management guidance.

Exercise & Rehabilitation

Your physiotherapist or osteopath may recommend exercises tailored to your current abilities and goals.

Rather than simply giving you a generic exercise sheet, the aim should be to find a level that you can realistically maintain.

Hands-On Treatment

Manual therapy may sometimes be used alongside exercise where appropriate.

Everyday Activity Advice

We can discuss practical ways of continuing activities that matter to you while managing symptoms sensibly.

The Goal Is Better Function, Not Just Less Pain

For many people with arthritic pain, the most meaningful goals are practical.

You may want to:

• Walk further
• Manage the stairs more comfortably
• Get back to gardening
• Continue playing golf
• Return to an exercise class
• Feel more confident getting up and down from the floor
• Keep doing your own shopping
• Stay independent for as long as possible

Those goals give treatment and rehabilitation a purpose.

Rather than measuring success only by a pain score, we can look at what you are able to do and what you want to get back to doing.

Osteopathy for Arthritic Pain

Where appropriate, osteopathic care may include assessment, manual therapy, movement advice and exercises.

Physiotherapy for Arthritis & Mobility

Physiotherapy can be particularly valuable where improving strength, movement and physical function is a priority.

Your physiotherapy plan may include:

• Individual exercise
• Strengthening
• Mobility work
• Activity progression
• Education and self-management
• Hands-on treatment where appropriate

NICE recommends therapeutic exercise for everyone with osteoarthritis, tailored to individual needs, and suggests supervised therapeutic exercise may also be considered.

Which Practitioner Should I See?

You do not need to decide this before contacting Westway Clinic.

Tell our reception team:

• Which joint is troubling you
• Whether you have an existing arthritis diagnosis
• What activities you are struggling with
• What you would like help getting back to

We can then help direct you towards an appropriate practitioner.

What Happens at Your First Appointment?

1. We Understand What Is Affecting You

Your practitioner will ask about your joint symptoms, medical history and how pain or stiffness is affecting everyday life.

2. We Assess Your Movement

Your assessment may include looking at joint movement, strength and how you perform relevant everyday movements.

3. We Explain What We Find

We will discuss which factors may be contributing to your current symptoms and what we believe is realistically achievable.

4. We Agree a Treatment Plan

Where appropriate, this may involve hands-on treatment, exercise, strengthening and practical advice.

5. We Focus on Your Goals

Your plan should relate to the activities you actually want to maintain or return to.

Do I Need an X-Ray or Scan?

Not always.

For osteoarthritis, NICE advises that diagnosis is usually made clinically and imaging is not normally required to confirm it. Management should generally be guided by the person’s symptoms and physical function.

If your symptoms do not fit a typical pattern, or your practitioner believes further medical assessment is appropriate, they can advise you on the next step.

If you have persistent symptoms and have not previously received a diagnosis, the NHS advises speaking to your GP.

When Should Joint Pain Be Assessed Medically?

Not every painful or swollen joint is arthritis.

You should seek medical advice if your symptoms are unexplained, persistent or worsening.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if a painful joint becomes swollen and feels hot, particularly if you also feel generally unwell, hot, cold or shivery. These symptoms can require urgent medical assessment.

If you already have a diagnosed inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, continue to follow the treatment and monitoring plan given by your GP or specialist team.

Why Choose Westway Clinic?

Living with arthritic pain is often about finding sustainable ways to keep moving rather than looking for a quick fix.

Our approach is to:

• Understand what matters to you
• Assess your current movement and function
• Explain things clearly
• Use appropriate hands-on care where relevant
• Build strength and movement
• Encourage practical self-management
• Help you remain active rather than unnecessarily restricting activity

The focus is on maintaining mobility, confidence and independence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arthritic Pain

Can exercise help osteoarthritis?

Yes.

Therapeutic exercise is one of the core treatments recommended by NICE for osteoarthritis and should be tailored to the individual.

Won’t exercise wear my joints out more?

People can understandably worry about this.

NICE advises that exercise may cause some initial discomfort but that consistent exercise has long-term benefits for pain, physical function and quality of life.

Your programme should be appropriate to your individual symptoms and abilities.

Can physiotherapy help osteoarthritis?

Yes. Exercise, strengthening and maintaining physical function are central parts of osteoarthritis management, making physiotherapy an appropriate route for many people.

Do I have to stop activities that make my joints ache?

Not necessarily.

The aim is often to find a manageable level of activity and gradually improve your capacity rather than simply stopping everything that causes discomfort.

Your practitioner can advise you based on your individual symptoms.

Can arthritis be cured?

Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and there is currently no cure, but symptoms can be managed and it does not necessarily continue worsening over time.

Keep Doing the Things That Matter to You

If joint pain or stiffness is making everyday movement more difficult, book an assessment at Westway Clinic.

We will assess how your symptoms are affecting you, explain your options clearly and help you build a realistic plan for staying active.

Westway Clinic
17 Hatchlands Road
Redhill, Surrey
RH1 6AA

Call: 01737 762990

Convenient for patients in Redhill, Reigate and surrounding areas.