As we age the weight-bearing joints, particularly of the lower limbs such as the hip and the knee, become worn and torn or wear out basically as a result of the loads that are put on them during our lives.

Joints will become painful and swollen, the range of movement will become restricted. If you get to the point where the pain and the dysfunction from this wear and tear process gets and stops you from being able to live your life, an orthopedic surgeon will tend to think about a joint replacement.

Joint replacement surgery is a very good way to being able to being more functional and have less pain. But because knee replacement and hip replacements only last for 10 to 15 years it's very important to make sure that you see a physiotherapist to determine what exercises are applicable for you, both before surgery to strengthen the muscles of the quadriceps and the hamstrings which would be at the back, as well as the calf muscles, as well as post-surgically you would need to learn how to use that new joint in the optimal way.

It's very common for patients to develop means of compensating with an arthritic painful joint so, perhaps walk differently or learn to weight bear differently, and so it's a physiotherapists responsibility to educate them about these dysfunctions and help them to become more functional and lead a pain-free life again.