Stiff, painful joints – Reduced mobility and range of motion – Reductions in muscular strength and endurance – these described symptoms are typical of those encountered by persons suffering from osteoarthritis, the most common of all 100 types of arthritis. For persons suffering from this condition, it can be a devastating and debilitating condition; affecting one’s ability to perform at work, play, even making simple day-to-day activities difficult to complete.
Osteoarthritis is a “wear-and-tear” condition that affects the joints of the body as a result of repetitive use. There is no cure for this condition and finding alternative therapies that effectively manage this condition remains critical for relieving pain and regaining activity. Today, this task (condition management) is easier than ever before which will help you regain control of your body, your arthritic condition, and more importantly, the active lifestyle you once were so familiar with.
What is Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis and, as mentioned, is the most common of all known joint conditions. It is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage over time. In persons without this condition, healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another without interference. Conversely, individuals with osteoarthritis are marked by deteriorations in the top layer of cartilage, causing a break down and wearing away of this precious tissue. Additionally, this disease may cause the affected joint(s) to lose its shape.
Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but primarily targets the most commonly used joints or those most affected by gravity. These areas include the fingers, hips, knees, lower back, and feet. It is not uncommon for persons to initially have only one joint affected. However, multiple joints are often affected as time progresses.
Causes of Osteoarthritis
The cause of osteoarthritis is still not known. Researchers suspect that a number of factors are at play, including the normal aging process, being overweight or obese, genetic predisposition, muscle weakness, and joint stress and injury. Another current theory suggests that enzymes may be at play.
Some scientists believe that cartilage damage may be due to the mechanical stress caused by the release of enzymes, either within the inner lining of the joint or cartilage cells. When in balance, these enzymes allow for normal breakdown and rebuilding processes. However, when too many enzymes are released, cartilage is broken down faster than it can be replaced. The reasons for such an imbalance are not clear and this hypothesis has yet to gain universal acceptance.
Signs and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
The signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis vary from person to person. For the majority of sufferers, symptoms appear gradually and continually worsen. However, there are the select few whose symptoms never progress past minor pain. The most common signs and symptoms are:
Joint soreness after periods of overuse or inactivity
Stiffness after periods of rest that goes away quickly when activity resumes
Morning stiffness, usually lasting no more than ½ hour
Pain caused by the weakening of muscles surrounding the joint due to inactivity
Joint pain is usually less in the morning and worse in the evening after a normal daily activity
Deterioration of coordination, posture, and walking caused by pain and stiffness
Are you at Risk?
Osteoarthritis exists as one of the most prevalent causes of disability, in the world! In America, it is estimated that 21 million adults currently suffer from this condition. Listed below are the most widely accepted risk factors for disease onset:
Age: Before the age of 45, men are more likely to develop this condition. After, 55 females are far more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis, and currently account for the majority of diagnosed cases.
Race: The Japanese populous has a higher incidence of osteoporosis, while South African blacks, East Indians, and Southern Chinese have the lowest occurrence of this condition. In the USA, ALL races are equally affected.
Activity: Being physically inactive dramatically increases your chance for developing this disease. In fact, experts believe that physical inactivity can be as detrimental to your joints as overuse. Underused joints are more susceptible to injury, range-of-motion problems, and diseases like osteoarthritis.
Repetition: Persons with occupations that call for the repetitive overuse of joint structures, like manual laborers, are at a far greater risk for developing osteoarthritis. Overuse of joints results in damage to cartilage.
Genetics: Some experts believe that osteoarthritis is a disorder caused by a genetic susceptibility for joint deterioration.
Osteoarthritis Treatments
Other than losing weight and avoiding exercises (or tasks) that exert too much stress upon the joints, there is no specific treatment to stop cartilage degeneration or to repair damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis patients. Most conventional treatments do not treat this condition at all, yet aim to manage the many adverse symptoms and halt disease progression. However, there are universal elements to conventional treatment attempts and includes; exercise, weight control, joint protection, medications, and physical and occupational therapies.
Many sufferers will resort to medications to ease the symptoms of the disease. However, the administration of such drugs is often accompanied with unwanted side effects.