Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint
disease, affects the elderly in parts of the body where it
hurts the most. A person suffering from knee osteoarthritis
will most likely equate it with cardiovascular disease because
the breakdown of articular cartilage of knee joints restricts
movement and the patient has to follow a set regimen affecting
his lifestyle.
Knee Osteoarthritis is due to injury,
congenital disorder, or obesity. The deterioration of
articular cartilage, a smooth and fibrous connective tissue
that acts as a protective cushion, narrows the joint space
between bones. In time, the cartilage becomes grooved and
fragmented and surrounding bones thicken or sprout into spurs.
Sometimes, there is additional swelling in the knees caused
when synovium, a membrane producing a thick fluid to nourish
the cartilage, becomes inflamed and produces additional fluid
known as ‘water of the knee’. Changes occur due to
constant rubbing of joint bones leading to deformity of joints
that is equally painful.
Knee osteoarthritis is diagnosed through
physical and pathological examinations of joints on either
side of knee including hip joints, checking on posture, and
gait. Once knee Osteoarthritis is confirmed, a treatment is
suggested depending on nature and extent of damage and on the
personal physical history of patient. Women over 60 years of
age are high risk factors for knee osteoarthritis as they
spend major portion of their lives doing physically demanding
work that has direct relationship with knee Osteoarthritis.
Wearing high heeled shoes also aggravates the pain. In
youngsters, knee osteoarthritis is hereditary or due to some
injury.
Precautions such as weight reduction,
changing work routine, postures, diet, avoiding injuries,
participating in physiotherapy, and exercise are advised.
Other methods of relief such as acupuncture, ointments,
prescription drugs, magnetic pulse therapy, vitamin regimes,
and topical pain relievers are temporary. Using prescription
drugs and surgery should be a mutual decision between patient
and doctor.
Osteoarthritis
provides detailed information about osteoarthritis,
knee osteoarthritis and more. Osteoarthritis is
affiliated with Gout
Diet.
