Physiotherapists have advised individuals to eat healthy diet and engage in regular exercise to avoid osteoarthritis.

This medical advice was given at the awareness walk organised by Igbobi physiotherapists (physiotherapy department) in commemoration of this year’s world physiotherapy day.

This year’s theme — Osteoarthritis: role of physiotherapists in their management and prevention, presented the medical professionals opportunity to sensitise people about the disease.

Staffs of the department, secondary school students from Bright Future School, Angus Memorial School joined the awareness rally round the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. This type of arthritis occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of bones wears down.

Head, physiotherapy department, Mrs. Atinuke Adepetun said osteoarthritis used to be a disease of the elderly, but now young persons are now affected by it.

Read Also: Six healthy vegetables good for consumption

She said: “We noticed that a large number of the country’s population have osteoarthritis, people of all ages are now affected. So that’s why we decided to intensify awareness this year.

Advising individuals on how to prevent the disease, she said: “First of all, exercise, then healthy diet, weight loss, lifestyle change are serious factors to be considered.

“Taking healthy diet helps to educes the chances of getting the disease. Osteoarthritis can be managed but cannot be cured completely.

Adepetun further advised those who may have been affected by the disease to seek professional advise from a physiotherapist.

“For example, in the area of exercise, a physiotherapist is in the vantage position to advise on kind of exercise to do.” She added.

Similarly, The planning committee head, Mrs. Temilola Abolarin explained that: “Osteoarthritis is majorly age-related. Age is a risk-factor. It is very rare to find a child (under-20) to have the disease.

“In years past, it used to be 50 and above but now it has done down due to life expectancy. Aboderin warned against treating the disease with kid gloves or doing home treatment. She advised people to always seek medical, professional advise.”