Menu
What is OAK Knee?
At Cardiff and Vale University Health Board we are offering a session called OAK (Options, Advice and Knowledge) which is dedicated to the management of osteoarthritis of the knee. The OAK knee programme has been developed in collaboration with GP’s, Orthopaedic surgeons, Physiotherapists and people like you, who have osteoarthritis of the knee.
The 90 minute group session is delivered by specially trained physiotherapists currently via zoom or face-to-face in local leisure centres. They offer the opportunity for people who have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee to learn more about the condition and various ways which can help you effectively manage the symptoms associated with it.
We all appreciate that people are different; we enjoy different things and have different goals in our lives. Similarly, knee osteoarthritis affects people in different ways. So finding the right treatments or management plans to suit your needs is important.
That is why at OAK we believe you should be at the centre of making the decision about how you want to manage your arthritic knee. We know that people who are involved in these decisions are more likely to engage in the treatment and to have a more successful outcome.
- OAK knee is about sharing information and experiences that will help you to make those decisions.
- We provide up to date information about osteoarthritis, what it is and what it isn’t.
- We also bring the science, which tells us which treatments are safe and effective ways of managing knee osteoarthritis.
- There is also information about what services are available locally to help you.
- Importantly, you and others can bring your own experiences of knee osteoarthritis, how it affects you and what has or hasn’t been effective in your circumstances.
If you would like to attend OAK your GP can refer you via the Outpatient Physiotherapy Department.
By the end of an OAK session you should have a better understanding of the condition, what you want to do to manage it and how to go about getting the help you need.
For more information about the options that will be discussed please see below:
A total knee replacement, also known as an arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure offered to patients, when their arthritis is becoming unmanageable. Normally an individual with arthritis will have tried to manage it with other non-surgical strategies such as pain relief, exercise, weight loss and sometimes a steroid injection.
A total knee replacement involves replacing the joint surfaces at the end of the thigh bone (femur) and the top of the lower leg (tibia).
Following surgery and in the hospital, the individual will start physiotherapy and be guided through exercises to start regaining movement and to get muscles working again. These exercises should be continued for some months after surgery and will be supported with outpatient physiotherapy support. Support will be mostly available online.
Oak Programme
In the current climate we are coming up with innovative ways to support people with joint pain to better manage their symptoms and improve their function, keeping them well and enhancing their quality of life.
As a result we have rolled out our OAK Programme virtually via ZOOM and face-to-face in local leisure centres. This involves participating in a group-based education session and we will support you in getting the help you need to manage your joint condition going forward.
If you would like to attend the programme please call 02920 335717 to arrange an appointment to attend OAK and you will be given an appointment on the phone.
