Many people all over the world live silently with arthritis, and do not know what it actually is or what the symptoms are. Simply put, arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. It can affect one (or multiple) joints within the body. In the foot, knee or hip, the most common type of arthritis is known as osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a disease which affects the entire joint, eventually leading to the breakdown of cartilage, and wearing away of bone. Every joint has a cartilage lining. This lining is the “cushioning” between the bones and when it deteriorates, the bones begin to grind on one another.
Some general symptoms can include joint pain, aching, morning stiffness (lasting less than 30 minutes), reduced range of movement in the affected joint(s), and possibly swelling. The symptoms come and go, but the intensity of the pain increases over time as the disease progresses.
Who is at risk?
Risk factors of osteoarthritis include:
- Sex: Women are actually more likely to develop osteoarthritis than men.
- Age: The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.
- Family history: Genetics may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
- Excess weight: Carrying extra weight increases your risk significantly.
- Joint injury: Osteoarthritis can occur in joints that have been “damaged” by a previous injury, such as from a sport, infection or accident.
- Occupations: People who repeatedly stress a particular joint may also be at greater risk of developing osteoarthritis.
- Muscle weakness: Weakness of supporting structures around the joint, such as muscles and ligaments can increase the risk of osteoarthritis.
What can be done to help?
Although there is currently no direct cure for arthritis, some treatment methods that can be used to manage the symptoms and reduce pain include:
- Exercise:This helps to strengthen the supporting muscles which reduces strain and dependency on the joints. Activities as simple as walking, biking and even yoga are great for helping with osteoarthritis. One thing to remember is that you should not overdo it and keep the daily exercise to a manageable amount without causing you pain.
- Lose weight:As previously discussed, being overweight can make osteoarthritis symptoms much more painful and it can even speed up the deterioration of joints. Even a small amount of weight loss can relieve some pressure and help to reduce your pain.
- Use heat to manage pain:Typically heat/warmth soothes achy arthritic joints.
- Use assistive devices: A cane or walker can assist by taking weight off your knee or hip while you walk. One tip is to carry the cane in the hand opposite the leg that hurts.
- Braces or shoe inserts:This is often the quickest and most efficient method used to treat several arthritis symptoms. Knee bracing helps to assist with support, and ultimately reduces the strain on joints. There are several different kinds of knee braces, all doing different things and providing different levels of support to different areas. Orthotics can also be recommended in some cases as they can support your foot’s arch to help reduce/apply pressure to certain areas that naturally do not usually receive them. For additional questions on knee bracing and orthotics stop by your local BioPed clinic and speak to an expert today to see what options are available for you.
1 in 6 Canadians will experience arthritis
Since it is difficult to self-diagnose osteoarthritis, it is important to know how common it actually is. Osteoarthritis affects nearly five million Canadians. This means that one in every six Canadians are diagnosed at some point in their life. What is worse is that those numbers are rapidly increasing, as it is predicted that an estimated one in four Canadians will have osteoarthritis by 2035, with a new diagnosis being given every 60 seconds.
Don’t be a silent statistic – we can help keep you moving pain free. Visit a BioPed clinic today.
