COVID-19 and OA: Tips for Staying Healthy

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted routines for people living with osteoarthritis (OA), making it challenging to maintain standard care plans. However, with targeted strategies, individuals can effectively manage OA symptoms, minimize infection risks, and prioritize overall health. This guide draws from expert advice by rheumatologists like Dr. Sharon Kolasinski from the University of Pennsylvania, offering actionable steps to navigate these challenges.

Continue Taking Your OA Medications

One common concern during the pandemic’s early stages was whether nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), commonly used for OA pain, increased COVID-19 infection risk or severity. Health authorities quickly addressed this: the World Health Organization (WHO), American College of Rheumatology, and epidemiology experts confirmed no evidence links NSAIDs to heightened COVID-19 risks. Patients should continue prescribed OA medications without interruption.

Discontinuing treatments can lead to worsened joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, exacerbating vulnerabilities during isolation periods. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice, especially if combining with treatments for other conditions. Regular medication adherence supports joint health and daily function, crucial when access to therapies is limited.

Visit Your Doctor’s Office Safely

Healthcare facilities have adapted robust infection control measures to protect patients with OA. These include mandatory masks for staff and visitors, readily available hand sanitizer, spaced appointments to limit crowds, temperature screenings, and social distancing in waiting areas. Doctor’s offices follow stringent protocols familiar to medical teams.

Before visiting, call ahead to inquire about specific safeguards. Many centers enhance cleaning routines and ventilation. For OA management involving injections or assessments, these visits remain essential. Balancing in-person care with telehealth minimizes exposure while addressing needs like flare-ups or progress checks.

Physical Therapy: In-Person and Telehealth Options

Physical therapy (PT) is a cornerstone of OA treatment, promoting strength, flexibility, and pain relief. Stay-at-home orders shifted much PT to remote formats, which offer convenience but limitations in technique correction and hands-on evaluation.

As facilities reopen, state guidelines dictate operations: limited patient numbers, enhanced equipment disinfection, and extended sanitation. Contact your PT provider to discuss protocols and hybrid models alternating telehealth with in-person sessions. This flexibility ensures continuity, helping maintain exercise form vital for OA knees, hips, and hands.

• Check local reopening rules for therapy centers.
• Ask about cleaning and capacity measures.
• Consider telehealth for follow-ups to reduce visits.

Keep Exercising

**Exercise** remains non-negotiable for OA management, combating stiffness and supporting weight control. Pandemic closures of gyms, pools, and YMCAs, coupled with stress-induced inactivity and dietary shifts leading to weight gain, pose significant hurdles.

Adapt with home-based routines: low-impact activities like walking, seated exercises, resistance bands, or yoga tailored for joints. Aim for 150 minutes weekly of moderate activity, per guidelines. Apps and online videos from reputable sources provide guided OA-specific workouts. Consistency preserves muscle around affected joints, reducing pain long-term.

Address Mental Health

Chronic pain from OA, compounded by pandemic anxiety, isolation, and uncertainty, heightens risks of depression and low motivation. Surveys indicate many OA patients faced mood declines, impacting adherence to self-care.

Prioritize mental wellness through routines: short daily walks for endorphin boosts, virtual social connections, mindfulness apps, or hobbies. Seek professional support via teletherapy if needed. A positive mindset enhances pain tolerance and activity levels, forming a virtuous cycle for better OA control.

Manage Weight

Weight management is critical for OA, as excess pounds strain weight-bearing joints like knees and hips. Pandemic habits—more home cooking, snacking, less movement—often led to gains, worsening symptoms.

Counter with balanced nutrition: emphasize vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains; limit processed foods and sugars. Portion control and mindful eating help. Combine with exercise for sustainable loss; even 5-10% reduction significantly eases joint load. Track progress with journals or apps, consulting dietitians remotely.

Manage Comorbidities

OA rarely occurs alone; conditions like

diabetes

hypertension

heart disease

lung issues

obesity

Maintain treatments, virtual check-ups, and lifestyle tweaks: blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar checks, smoking cessation. These steps safeguard against severe outcomes, ensuring OA isn’t the sole focus. Integrated care optimizes resilience.

Understanding Risks for OA Patients

Unlike autoimmune arthritis, OA doesn’t inherently elevate COVID-19 hospitalization odds beyond general population levels. However, frequent OA comorbidities drive higher risks. Keeping these controlled, alongside vaccinations and masking, improves outcomes.

Post-infection, some report worsened OA pain or fatigue, per surveys. Strategies here mitigate such escalations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do OA medications increase COVID-19 risk?

No, NSAIDs and other OA drugs do not heighten infection or severity risks, per WHO and rheumatology experts.

Can I safely attend PT during COVID-19?

Yes, with precautions like limited capacity and disinfection; hybrid telehealth works well.

Does arthritis worsen COVID-19 outcomes?

OA patients match general risks, but comorbidities elevate them; management is key.

How does COVID-19 affect OA symptoms long-term?

Some experience increased pain/fatigue post-infection; ongoing care prevents this.

Are OA patients at higher long COVID risk?

Evidence suggests elevated risk due to inflammation overlaps; control arthritis proactively.

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Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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