YouGov survey shows physiotherapy is popular therapy for arthritis

The study, published to mark World Arthritis Day on 12 October, found that 91 per cent of people with arthritis used at least one form of treatment to alleviate the pain they experience.

Physical activity was the most common technique to manage the symptoms of arthritis, and used by 53 per cent those who responded to a survey carried out by YouGov.

Meanwhile, 49 per cent of respondents said healthy eating was a way of managing their condition, while for 47 per cent it was weight management. Forty per cent of respondents said they took painkillers every day.

YouGov examined the impacts of arthritis on 2,074 people of working age in Great Britain, and explored the effects the condition can have on personal well-being, life satisfaction, and mental health.

The pollster conducted an online survey between 28 June and 25 July of people aged 25 to 65. They all had either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, although 14 per cent of respondents also had another type of arthritis in addition to one of these two conditions.

David Vaux, therapies manager at Arthritis Action, said: ‘This feedback confirms the need for easy access to expert clinicians, such as physiotherapists.

‘The respondents’ confidence in the physiotherapy profession underlines the expertise it can offer to those with arthritis.

‘With physical activity a commonly cited method to manage arthritis, the profession is well-placed to offer timely advice in keeping with the CSP’s Love Activity, Hate Exercise? campaign.’

The survey also indicates the strong link between arthritis and poor mental health. Close to half (46 per cent) of people with arthritis had an anxiety score between seven and 10, where 10 was completely anxious, it revealed.

The majority (84 per cent) or respondents were worried that their pain would get worse.