Osteoarthritis

A condition characterized by joint swelling and thinning of the cartilage on the ends of the bones.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

• Pain: Deep achy pain, worse after activity
• Stiffness: Limited movement. Joint can take a while to loosen up in the morning or when it is rainy
• Noisy joints: A grating sound or grinding sensation while moving the joint
• Swelling: Tender, inflamed joints

What causes Osteoarthritis

Degradation of the cartilage used to be thought of as a normal part of getting older but is now considered a result of excessive wear and tear of joints. This may be due to abnormal stress on the joints from tight, imbalanced muscles or from previous injury. When the cartilage is worn down faster than the body can repair it osteoarthirits is likely to develop.

What can I do about it?

• Get an assessment: Orthopedic and Range of Motion tests can detect the early signs of many joint problems.
• Exercise right: Even advanced cases can benefit from gentle stretches and exercise. Balanced muscle tone will help to stabilize the joints and allow them to move more fluidly.
• Identify causes: This is not always possible but when an aggravating factor can be identified, it will be important to limit its effect.
• Straighten up: Misaligned joints will wear more quickly so speak to your Chiropractor or Osteopath.
• Supplements: Glucosamine and Chondroitin are two potentially effective supplements which are thought to help the body rebuild cartilage.

Other causes of joint pain or stiffness

• Tendonitis: A very common consequence of overuse where the tendons become inflamed. Easily treated once diagnosed but requires several weeks of total rest of the area followed by a rehabilitation plan of exercises and stretches.

What to do about tendonitis

• Tight muscles: Chronically tense muscles will limit flexibility and will tire easily. Hypertension also creates the familiar sensation of ache. Careful stretching and mild exercise of a tight muscle will effectively reduce the related symptoms.

More on the targeted exercise program in Desk Doctor

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the joint cartilage in several joints at the same time. Typically it affects the fingers.
• Bursitis: Swelling of a fluid filled sac called a bursa. Normally a bursa aids the smooth movement of a joint however when irritated it can produce stiffness and ache.

 

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