Osteoarthritis: What Should We Do?
Osteoarthritis is considered the most common form of arthritis. It´s a disease of the joint that can be highly disabling and affects many people worldwide.It currently affects more than 20 million people in the United States and is estimated to increase to 67 million by 2030, affecting predominantly female and the elderly.
Some of the predisposing factors for the onset and progression of the disease may be:
-Age
-Gender
– Race or ethnicity
– Postmenopausal estrogen loss
-Bone density
– Nutritional factors
There are also biomechanical factors that cause joint wear, among which are:- Obesity- Repetitive use- Acute or chronic joint trauma (main cause of osteoarthritis in young people)-Muscular weakness
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE OSTEOARTHRITIS
The diagnosis is made through a combination of clinical signs and symptoms associated with an image that shows characteristic signs of the disease such as the so-called osteophytes.
Some of the signs and symptoms that could indicate that you have osteoarthritis are:
-Joint pain
– Inflammation
– Stiffness (usually in the morning or after prolonged periods of inactivity)
– Limitation of movement
There are also other symptoms that are more specific for knee and hip osteoarthritis:
For example, in osteoarthritis of the knee, you may have knee instability, usually when going up or down stairs.
And in osteoarthritis of the hip, you may notice difficulty performing activities that require bending over, sometimes associated with pain in the groin or buttocks.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS?
The most important non-pharmacological strategy when treating osteoarthritis is exercise.
Multiple studies show beneficial effects of physical exercise for the treatment and maintenance of people suffering from this disease.
There is evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of flexibility, resistance and strengthening exercises for pain management, increased functionality, and improvement of quality of life.
One of the main objectives is the reduction of body weight in obese patients, since obesity is one of the factors that most predispose to the onset of osteoarthritis. This is due not only to the constant stress on the bearing joints (knee and hip), but also a relationship between the adipokines generated by the fat tissue and the appearance and progression of the disease.
WHAT EXERCISES CAN YOU DO?
1) FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES: it is based on the stretching of the muscles, with the goal of improving the range of motion and strengthening the stabilizing structures of the joint.
2) ENDURANCE EXERCISES: Start with aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming or stationary cycling.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are overweight or obese or have been sedentary for a long time, we recommend starting your resistance and strength training with aquatic programs to reduce impact on the joints.
Remember that this disease must be evaluated and treated by a group of professionals such as: your doctor, a physiotherapist, and a personal trainer.
Make sure to consult with your doctor before starting any training program.
A good starting point may be increasing physical activity on a daily basis, you will notice an improvement of your physical fitness, which will allow you to start a training program, and improve your skills and overall health.