Osteoarthritis
There are more than 100 types of arthritis and the most common is called osteoarthritis. It is a degenerative condition of the joints and can vary in severity from a mild to very severe disabling pain.
It usually begins with the rupture of the flexible tissue of the joint known as cartilage and can cause stiffness or immobility of the joints. Many people can develop osteoarthritis: men and women, the elderly and even children. It is more common for osteoarthritis to affect the knees, hips, spine, and hands.
Many people suffer from arthritis - including men and women, the elderly and even children. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and the most common is called osteoarthritis.
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Osteoarthritis: a degenerative disease of the joints
Osteoarthritis begins with the rupture or degeneration of the joints between the bones of the body. The flexible tissue, known as cartilage, provides a cushion where the bones meet and prevents them from rubbing against each other when moving. The cartilage, as well as any other shock absorber, can begin to wear out over the years and the use of the joints and as this happens, the preventive mattress between the bones of the body decreases. 10
Osteoarthritis can:
- Affect many joints, such as hands, knees, hips and spine.
- Worsen over time, which can cause the break between cartilage and bone. The bones may begin to rub against each other and wear or damage. This can result in persistent pain.
- Cause joint pain and stiffness. These symptoms may get worse after resting or not moving the joint for a while.
- Limit the movement and flexibility of the joints, since the affected joints can not bend easily or in their full range of mobility.
- Causing chronic pain and severe disability in extreme cases and can affect normal day-to-day activities such as walking, climbing stairs or opening jars.
Risk factors for osteoarthritis
Age is a factor of osteoarthritis. People usually develop osteoarthritis from age 40 and up.
Osteoarthritis is more common and severe in women, especially in the knees and hands. eleven
Preventing osteoarthritis is not always possible due to multiple factors that contribute to its development:
- Joint injuries can increase the risk of developing osteoatritis in the future (for example, tennis elbow). Be careful not to overwork a damaged or painful joint and try to avoid repetitive or excessive movements of the joints. eleven
- Being overweight or obese can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. Excessive weight overloads the joints, particularly in the knees and hips and can result in knee and back pain. eleven
- Treatment options for mild to moderate osteoarthritis include over-the-counter pain relievers or heat therapies to reduce pain. The medical guides recommend acetaminophen as the analgesic to treat joint pain.
- Physical therapies that include exercising, staying active, losing weight and maintaining a positive attitude can also help manage osteoarthritis.