It is estimated that over 300,000 New Zealanders are living with osteoarthritis (OA). It’s a disease that can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical activity levels, and therefore their overall health and quality of life. However, our experience has shown that with the appropriate treatment, patients can experience significant improvements in their symptoms.

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In response to this, we will soon be launching a multidisciplinary osteoarthritis clinic, bringing together a range of medical and allied health specialists to provide a comprehensive treatment plan. This clinic will be the first of its kind in New Zealand.

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The clinic will be looking to optimise the non-surgical management of osteoarthritis, primarily of the weight-bearing joints.

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Each patient will be assessed by a Sport and Exercise Physician in order to create an over-arching management plan. As weight loss and muscle strengthening are the key pillars of osteoarthritis management, patients will then be reviewed by a Clinical Exercise Physiologist who will prescribe a tailored progressive resistance training programme, and they may also require a review from a registered Dietician to optimise their weight. Completing our team will be a sub-specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, which will allow a pathway for surgical intervention for those that either present to the clinic significantly symptomatic despite non-operative treatment, or those who do not achieve acceptable symptom improvement via the non-operative pathway.

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Within the pathway, patients will also have access to evidence-based medications and injectable therapies such as hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

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We feel this integrated approach will allow excellent patient care, and similar clinics overseas have yielded very promising outcomes.

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If you have a patient you believe could benefit from our clinic, they can be referred to us by either emailing referrals@axissportsmedicine.co.nz or calling 09 521 9811.

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