What lifestyle modifications should I recommend to patients with osteoarthritis to help manage their symptoms effectively?

Recommend weight management strategies for overweight or obese patients, as losing weight can improve quality of life, physical function, and reduce pain, with benefits increasing with greater weight loss, such as 10% of body weight ¹.

Advise on therapeutic exercise tailored to individual needs, including local muscle strengthening and general aerobic fitness, which can help reduce joint pain and improve function ¹,².

Consider supervised therapeutic exercise sessions to support adherence and effectiveness ².

Inform patients that joint pain may increase initially when starting therapeutic exercise, but regular, consistent activity will be beneficial in the long term for reducing pain and improving daily functioning and quality of life ².

Support the use of appropriate footwear if needed, to aid joint protection and comfort ¹.

Advise on the use of walking aids such as sticks or frames to support safe and independent movement, reducing strain on affected joints ².

Encourage participation in movement programs like the Versus Arthritis 'Let's Move with Leon' online programme, which aims to improve strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness ¹.

Advise against the use of unproven treatments such as chondroitin, glucosamine, topical rubefacients, local anaesthetics, acupuncture, or dry needling for symptom relief ¹.