Osteoarthritis develops gradually within unstable or poorly functioning joints. The feet (33 joints) forefoot, midfoot, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back are commonly affected.

Conservative treatments targeting unstable symptomatic joints such as footwear prescription, sports tape strappings and various foot orthoses are effect if in reducing and, in many cases resolving arthritic joint symptoms. As arthritis has such destructive effects on an individual's quality of life and independence, biomechanical treatments can form the basis of pain relief, return to activity and potentially slow the degenerative process.

Having restored stability to the unstable symptomatic joint, manual therapies such as soft tissue mobilisation, dry needling, joint mobilisation, muscle strengthening and stretching programs can restore long term function and rehabilitate the arthritic joint.
When conservative and biomechanical treatments for arthritis fail to maintain the desired quality of life or stop the pain, surgical methods may be necessary.