Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease involving the cartilage and the surrounding tissue.
The burden of the disease is leading to pain, stiffness, and limitation in social participation, it affects psychological health, loss of productivity, disability and therefore poor quality of life.
Research has determined the following risk factors for the development of arthritis:
- Age
- Obesity – Modifiable Risk
- Gender
- Genetics
- Bone health – Modifiable Risk
- Injury
- Occupation- Modifiable Risk
- Strength – Modifiable Risk
- Biomechanics – Modifiable Risk
What can we do together to modify the risk:
I always like to base everything I do on research BUT most importantly the applicability in real life. I have seen patients suffering and struggling to manage their symptoms of osteoarthritis due to ignorance or potentially wrong beliefs about the disease.
Let me just start by saying that since osteoarthritis Radiological finding (meaning that a scan can show joint degeneration), this doesn’t correlate with the symptoms of the patients.
NOTE: Many studies have shown that asymptomatic individuals may have a scan that shows moderate or even severe degeneration without symptoms.
Highlight: What can we do to be more like those people and manage our arthritis to be non-painful and non-symptomatic?
Physical Activity:
Research has shown that regular physical activity seems to increase lubrication of the joint.
In addition, it helps manage other risk factors by improving strength & proprioception. It helps with weight loss and helps encourage bone health.
A structured exercise program with the guidance of a health practitioner has shown to have very positive results on the management of the condition
Obesity:
Excess body weight adds additional loading on the weight-bearing joints which cause increased inflammation and therefore pain.
In addition, obesity sets the right environment for systemic inflammation in the body. This affects the nerves around the joint with inflammation, making symptoms worse.
An anti-inflammatory diet seems to have a role in managing inflammation symptoms alongside other treatments.
Take home message:
- Osteoarthritis doesn’t have to be painful OR symptomatic!
- Think of Physical Activity And Weight management
- Seek help from your medical and healthcare professionals to guide you through the process.
