--- title: "Arthritis Physiotherapy in Haslemere, Surrey" description: "Physiotherapy for osteoarthritis in Haslemere. Exercise is a core treatment recommended by NICE, and it does not wear joints out." canonical: "https://healthflex.co.uk/services/arthritis" --- ![Smiling older woman in light blue hoodie holding yellow dumbbells with blurred exercise group behind](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-arthritis.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790157210476&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Long term conditions # Arthritis £62–£72 30–45 mins [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) The most common misunderstanding about arthritis is that it is a reason to do less. **It is one of the strongest reasons to do more**, and the evidence on that is not close. **NICE recommends therapeutic exercise as a core treatment for osteoarthritis for everybody who has it, regardless of age, severity or what a scan shows.** Exercise reduces pain and improves function, and it does not accelerate the wear. The instinct to protect a painful joint by using it less produces weaker muscle around it, and a joint supported by weaker muscle hurts more, which is how the cycle tightens. ## What a scan does and does not tell you **Degenerative changes are extremely common in people with no pain at all**, and they increase with age in everybody. How much a worn joint hurts correlates poorly with how it looks on X-ray, and correlates rather well with strength, activity levels and confidence. All three of those are treatable, which is why a diagnosis of arthritis is not the end of the conversation. ## What treatment involves Assessment of what you can and cannot do now and what you want back. Then a strengthening programme for the muscles around the affected joint, work on movement and function, and pain management strategies. We will also be honest about **pacing**, because doing too much on a good day and paying for it for three is the most common pattern people fall into. Where arthritis mainly affects one side of the knee, an offloading brace can make walking and exercise more comfortable for the right person. Our article [Do I need a knee brace?](/blog/do-i-need-a-knee-brace) explains who it suits and what NICE says about bracing. ## Rheumatoid and inflammatory arthritis These are different conditions requiring medical management by a rheumatologist, and physiotherapy works alongside that rather than instead of it. **Hot, swollen joints, morning stiffness lasting more than an hour, or several joints affected symmetrically** should be discussed with your GP rather than treated as wear and tear. ## When surgery is worth discussing Where pain and loss of function persist despite good conservative treatment, joint replacement is an excellent operation and we will write to your GP. [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Frequently Asked Questions Will exercise make my arthritis worse? No. NICE recommends therapeutic exercise as a core treatment for osteoarthritis for everyone who has it, regardless of age or severity, because it reduces pain and improves function. It does not accelerate wear. Using a painful joint less leads to weaker muscle around it, which makes pain worse. My X-ray shows severe arthritis. Does that mean nothing can help? No. How much a worn joint hurts correlates poorly with how it looks on X-ray, and rather well with strength, activity and confidence, all of which are treatable. Degenerative changes are also very common in people with no pain at all. Is rheumatoid arthritis treated the same way? No. Rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis need medical management by a rheumatologist, and physiotherapy works alongside that. Hot swollen joints, morning stiffness lasting over an hour, or several joints affected symmetrically should go to your GP rather than being treated as wear and tear. [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Available Team Members These team members perform this service - ![Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight fair hair and is smiling at the camera, wearing a white Healthflex Physical Therapy Centres polo shirt. Behind her, out of focus, are a green playing field, a wooden rail fence and autumn trees under a cloudy sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-anneke-webb-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x53.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158550952&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Anneke Webb Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/anneke-webb) - ![Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight light brown hair and a wide, friendly smile, and wears a navy zip neck fleece. Behind her, out of focus, are a yellow green hedge and trees under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-phillipa-frankland-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x61.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159136941&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Phillipa Frankland Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/phillipa-frankland) - ![Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Close head and shoulders portrait of Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has short dark hair and a full dark beard flecked with grey, with a relaxed closed mouth smile, and wears a navy polo shirt. Behind him is soft green foliage under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2FNick%2520Thornhill-48x57.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159610604&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Nick Thornhill Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/nick-thornhill) - ![Theika Botterill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Theika Botterill, physiotherapist specialising in sports and musculoskeletal care at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has brown hair tied back and a wide, beaming smile, and wears a pink Healthflex polo shirt. The background is a blurred autumn hedge under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-theika-botterill-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x60.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159715633&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Theika Botterill Physiotherapist, sports and musculoskeletal [View](/team-members/theika-botterill) Show more team members - ![Gill Onslow, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Gill Onslow, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has wavy light brown hair with a fringe and a gentle smile, and wears a pink polo shirt under a navy V neck jumper. The background is a soft, bright blur of green garden foliage.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-gill-onslow-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x72.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158706868&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Gill Onslow Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/gill-onslow) - ![Imogen Scott-Plumber, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Imogen Scott-Plumber, physiotherapist specialising in sports injury and rehabilitation at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has fair hair tied back and a relaxed smile, and wears a navy polo shirt. Behind her is a dense green hedge, softly out of focus.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-imogen-scott-plumber-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x57.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159848262&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Imogen Scott-Plumber Physiotherapist | Sports Injury & Rehabilitation | Performance [View](/team-members/imogen-scott-plumber) - ![Kathryn Lewis, neurological physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Kathryn Lewis, physiotherapist specialising in adult neurological rehabilitation at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has shoulder length dark brown hair lit by sunshine and a broad smile, and wears a white Healthflex polo shirt. Behind her is dark green foliage, softly out of focus.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-kathryn-lewis-neurological-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x71.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158869397&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Kathryn Lewis Physiotherapist, adult neurological rehabilitation [View](/team-members/kathryn-lewis) ## Related Services Complete your experience with these services - Musculoskeletal physiotherapy £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/musculoskeletal-physiotherapy) - Strength and conditioning programmes £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/strength-and-conditioning-programmes)