Physiotherapy management of knee and hip osteoarthritis: A survey of patient and medical practitioners’ expectations, experiences and perceptions of effectiveness of treatment

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of hip and knee pain. Current research advocates physiotherapy as an effective form of treatment to help manage OA. The aim of the study was to investigate the self-reported behaviour, experiences, expectations, and perceptions of general practitioners (GPs), orthopaedic surgeons, and patients with regard to physiotherapy referral and management of individuals with OA of the hip and knee. A survey questionnaire was designed to gather this information. A total of 98/320 (30% response rate) participants with hip or knee OA responded. Twenty four GPs from a pool of 52 (46%), and 20/76 orthopaedic surgeons (26%) responded. Fifty-one percent of participants with OA had received physiotherapy with the majority being referred by their GP or surgeon. Common interventions applied by physiotherapists appeared to be in keeping with best practice evidence. The 49% of participants who did not receive physiotherapy were not given an indication of the benefits of treatment from physiotherapists. Those participants with OA of the hip and knee who had good access to physiotherapy services, were receiving treatment in keeping with current best practice. GPs do regularly refer patients to physiotherapy but less so orthopaedic surgeons. Further improvements in referral patterns may be possible by increasing awareness of the benefits of exercise and physiotherapy management for OA.