It is characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of the bones and allows easy movement of joints. The breakdown of cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.
Risk factors:
Age. Incidences of OA increase as you age. The older you are, the more you have used your joints.
Obesity. Obesity is a worldwide epidemic. Increased body weight is a serious factor in the development of OA, particularly in your knees, which carry the brunt of your weight day in and day out..
Injury or Overuse. Athletes and people who have jobs that require doing repetitive motion, such as landscaping, typing or machine operating, have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Muscle Weakness. Studies of the knee muscles not only show that weakness of the muscles surrounding the knee can lead to OA, but that strengthening exercises for thigh muscles are important in reducing the risk.
Other Diseases and Types of Arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis tend to have a greater chance of developing.Many other diseases are similarly implicated.
Stages of Osteoarthritis
Cartilage loses elasticity .
Wear of cartilage causes changes to underlying bone.
Bony growths, called spurs or osteophytes, develop near the end of the bone.
Bits of bone or cartilage float loosely in the joint space..
The joint fluid doesn’t have enough hyaluronan, which affects the joint’s ability to absorb shock.
Through exercise, you can improve your overall health and fitness, as well as your arthritis symptoms.
Exercise can:
- Keep joints moving
- Strengthen muscles around joints
- Keep bones strong and healthy
- Help you complete daily activities more easily
- Improve your overall health and fitness, including increasing your energy, improving your sleep, controlling your weight, strengthening your heart and improving your self-esteem and sense of well-being.
- Regular exercise can also help you effectively manage pain. A physical therapist, occupational therapist, exercise physiologist or doctor can recommend an exercise program for you.
- Your program should include range-of-motion (the normal amount your joints can be moved in a certain direction) exercises to keep your joints flexible.
- It also should include endurance exercise, such as water exercise, walking or riding a stationary bicycle. Endurance exercises help keep your heart, lungs, bones and muscles strong. They help your body work more efficiently and give you more stamina so that you can work longer without tiring as quickly.
- Some experts think alternative exercise, such as yoga and tai chi, can be beneficial for people with arthritis.
SIMPLE WAYS TO BE GOOD TO YOUR JOINTS
Maintain your ideal body weight. The more you weigh, the more stress you are putting on your joints, especially your hips, knees, back and feet.
Move your body. Exercise protects joints by strengthening the muscles around them. Strong muscles keep your joints from rubbing against one another, wearing down cartilage. We can help you get started on an exercise program that works for you.
Stand up straight. Good posture protects the joints in your neck, back, hips and knees.
Use the big joints. When lifting or carrying, use largest and strongest joints and muscles. This will help you avoid injury and strain on your smaller joints.
Pace yourself. Alternate periods of heavy activity with periods of rest. Repetitive stress on joints for long periods of time can accelerate the wear and tear that causes OA.
Listen to your body. If you are in pain, don't ignore it. Pain after activity or exercise can be an indication that you have overstressed your joints.
Don't be static. Changing positions regularly will decrease the stiffness in your muscles and joints.
Forget the weekend warrior. Don't engage in activities your body for which your body isn't prepared. Start new activities slowly and safely until you know how your body will react to them.
No comments:
Post a Comment