Wellness & Fitness

How to manage osteoarthritis

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It is still a challenge to diagnose osteoarthritis early. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and it’s occurrence has increased dramatically since the mid 20th century.

Not surprisingly, researchers are busy in search of answers for the whats, whys and hows of this frequently occurring condition.

Like so many areas in medical science we know a lot about osteoarthritis but fall short of knowing how to prevent, slow down or reverse joint damage caused by osteoarthritis.

WHAT WE KNOW

Osteoarthritis mostly affects the hips, knees, spine and hands and is more common in women than men.

It occurs more frequently after the age of 40.

It is a chronic inflammatory disease of joints that involves cartilage (the shiny and slippery surface on the end of the bone), the bone underlying the cartilage, and the joint lining and capsule. Symptoms include varying degrees of severity joint pain, swelling, stiffness and associated muscle weakness or tightness.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis tend to come and go, with periods of increased discomfort and periods of greater comfort.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

Causes and risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis include:

•Obesity

•Prior joint injury and damage

•Genetic predisposition and bone deformities, and

•Long term overuse such as might occur in a work environment or some sports.

Medical treatment and intervention cannot prevent or reverse the joint damage caused by the disease.

Medications such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories can help manage symptoms. Advanced disease is treated with corticosteroid injections and surgical interventions such as hip and knee joint replacements.

Injection therapies such as prolotherapy, PRP (plasma rich protein) and stem cell therapies are used to treat symptoms of the disease or reverse joint pain, but they are yet to be proven to be consistently effective.

What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis?

Evidence based treatment of osteoarthritis emphasises education, weight management, exercise and activity modifications to reduce pain and improve mobility and function.

These are tangible strategies available for people with osteoarthritis to take charge of managing the health of their joints.

The challenge for the medical and physiotherapy professions is to provide accessible services that include assessing, treating, educating patients and follow-ups.

Consulting your physiotherapist and exercising at home or in a gym is an effective approach.

However, there remains a need to reach more people diagnosed with osteoarthritis to educate and encourage them to exercise, which is key to managing the disease.

It is still a challenge to diagnose osteoarthritis early. Most diagnosis are done in late stages. Education on the same remains a huge challenge in the country.

NELLIE NTHIGA, BDM, C&P Health Centre.