Well+Able

Something that doesn’t get talked about enough before joint replacement surgery:
What you believe about your pain going in matters.
Studies have found that higher pre-surgical fear and catastrophizing about pain is an independent predictor of poorer outcomes after knee replacement — separate from the surgery itself.
This connects to what OA pain researcher Tasha Stanton has shown consistently: the nervous system’s response to threat, shaped by our beliefs about pain and movement, doesn’t automatically reset after an operation.
Addressing those beliefs before surgery — alongside building strength and fitness — is part of what prehab is for.
We’ve written about what that preparation looks like and where massage therapy fits in.
🔗 wellandable.ca/resources/blog/preparing-for-knee-hip-replacement-kamloops

On a wait list for a knee or hip replacement?
The time between your surgical consult and your surgery date is an opportunity — not just a delay.
Research on prehabilitation (structured exercise and education before surgery) has found it’s associated with improvements in strength, function, and pain both before and after joint replacement surgery. A 2024 systematic review of 28 randomized controlled trials found positive outcomes across multiple measures up to 52 weeks post-surgery.
What you do now can affect how you arrive at surgery and how you recover from it.
Our latest post covers what prehab involves, what the evidence actually shows (including the limits of it), why pain beliefs before surgery matter, and how massage therapy fits alongside the process.
🔗 wellandable.ca/resources/blog/preparing-for-knee-hip-replacement-kamloops

One of the most useful things massage therapy can do for OA isn’t just the hands-on work.
It’s the conversation.
Research by Tasha Stanton and colleagues has consistently shown that fear of movement is a major driver of inactivity in people with knee OA and inactivity tends to make symptoms worse over time.
A care environment that addresses those fears, reassures honestly, and treats you as an individual (not a diagnosis) matters alongside the soft tissue work.
We’ve written about how we approach OA at Well+Able —> what we do, and what to expect.
🔗 wellandable.ca/resources/blog/massage-therapy-osteoarthritis-kamloops

Can massage therapy help with osteoarthritis?
Well, it depends on what you’re asking it to do.
The evidence shows that massage can support short-term improvements in pain, stiffness, and function for people with knee OA. A 2024 systematic review of 25 studies found positive pain relief outcomes, with better results when treatment ran longer than four weeks. No serious adverse effects were reported.
What it doesn’t do is replace exercise, change joint structure, or work well as a stand-alone long-term strategy. The strongest evidence for OA still points to movement and education as the foundation.
Our latest post covers where massage fits, what an assessment-led appointment looks like at Well+Able, and who it’s most likely to help.
🔗 wellandable.ca/resources/blog/massage-therapy-osteoarthritis-kamloops

Aquatic exercise is one of the most well-supported options for people managing knee or hip OA — and it’s especially useful if land-based activity feels too uncomfortable to start.
Water reduces the load on your joints while still letting you build strength and maintain movement. A Cochrane review found moderate evidence that it reduces pain and disability in people with hip and knee OA.
In Kamloops, the Tournament Capital Centre is a practical local option worth knowing about.
We’ve written about how exercise fits into OA management — and where massage therapy supports, not replaces, that approach. Link below.
🔗 wellandable.ca/resources/blog/movement-and-osteoarthritis-why-exercise-helps

9 out of 10 people with knee OA are inactive.
Not because they can’t move — but because they believe movement will make things worse.
That belief is understandable. Words like “wear and tear” and “bone on bone” make it sound like your joint is too damaged to handle activity. But the research is clear: for most people with OA, regular movement is one of the most effective things you can do for pain and function.
Our latest blog post covers the evidence behind exercise for OA, why fear of movement tends to make symptoms worse, and how aquatic exercise fits in as an option for people who find land-based activity harder to start.
🔗 wellandable.ca/resources/blog/movement-and-osteoarthritis-why-exercise-helps

OA is the most common form of arthritis in Canada — and it’s more common in BC than most people realize.
The good news: it’s not a sentence. The people who tend to do best are those who stay active, understand their pain, and work with care providers who don’t rely on fear-based explanations.
Our new blog post covers what OA is, what causes pain (hint: it’s more complex than “damage”), and what the current evidence says about managing it well — including the role of aquatic exercise and hands-on care.
🔗 https://wellandable.ca/resources/blog/what-is-osteoarthritis-really

“Bone on bone” is one of the most common phrases people hear after an OA diagnosis — and one of the most discouraging.
But here’s what the research actually shows: pain in osteoarthritis doesn’t reliably match what’s on an X-ray. Some people with significant joint changes have little pain. Others have moderate changes and significant pain.
That’s because pain is shaped by more than the joint itself — the nervous system plays a major role.
We’ve written a plain-language guide to what OA actually is, and what the evidence says helps.
🔗 https://wellandable.ca/resources/blog/what-is-osteoarthritis-really

Joint pain doesn’t always mean something is wrong.

But patterns matter.

If you’re noticing:
• Stiffness in the morning
• Pain that improves as you move
• Joints that feel “slow” to warm up

It may be worth understanding what’s behind it.

Our newest blog breaks down what arthritis-related pain can feel like and what tends to help.

Read it here:
https://wellandable.ca/resources/blog/arthritis-pain-what-it-feels-like

When you're ready, Book now through our website.

“Is this arthritis?”

That’s one of the most common questions people have when joint pain or stiffness starts to show up.

The answer isn’t always obvious.

We just published a new blog that explains:
• What arthritis pain can feel like
• Common patterns (like stiffness after rest)
• What symptoms usually mean — and what they don’t
• What you can do to keep moving

Read the full article here:
https://wellandable.ca/resources/blog/arthritis-pain-what-it-feels-like

If joint stiffness or discomfort has been lingering, you can Book now to get started.