The most prevalent bang out of arthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent bang out of arthritis.
This wear and tear can increase friction,bone spurring, pain, and stiffness.
This article will outline the most common causes, symptoms, and treatments for osteoarthritis.
Srdjan Radevic / EyeEm
Srdjan Radevic / EyeEm
The Anatomy of a Joint
When two bones meet, a joint forms.
A smooth, slippery coatingcalled cartilagecoats the endings of bones and helps one glide against the other.
What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
Severalhallmark symptomsare typically seen with osteoarthritis.
This includes:
Osteoarthritis Causes: Why Does OA Wear Down Joints and Bones?
Many people hear that a lifetime of physical activity or exercise can develop osteoarthritis in their bones and joints.
However, a recent review dispelled this myth and found moderate physical activity does not cause OA to develop.
These include:
The research establishing these risk factors is still in progress.
Speak to a healthcare provider about your specific situation and any personal risk factors that may need modifying.
Can You Prevent Osteoarthritis?
Preventing osteoarthritis from progressing or becoming symptomatic may be possible if you address some of the conditions risk factors.
For example:
There are significant differences betweenosteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
As previously mentioned, osteoarthritis occurs after wear and tear cause a bones cartilage to deteriorate at a joint.
This increases friction, excessive bony buildup, and pain or soreness.
This tissue damage frequently leads to pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Tests to Diagnose Osteoarthritis
To accurately diagnose osteoarthritis, a healthcare provider usually performs a comprehensive evaluation.
They may also obtainan X-rayto provide a clear image of the joint in question.
The most common are outlined below.
A healthcare provider can guide safe ways to begin a new fitness regimen.
They may also refer you to physical therapy for more structured guidance on appropriate osteoarthritis exercise techniques.
Surgery
In severe cases of OA, surgery may be necessary.
This is especially true if more conservative treatments fail to relieve your symptoms.
Occasionally,osteotomy surgerymay also be recommended.
This operation involves removing a piece of bone to alleviate pressure on the arthritic portion of the joint.
Braces
In some situations, a brace can reduce some of your osteoarthritis pain.
Managing Osteoarthritis Pain
Several other treatments may help you manage your osteoarthritis pain.
Unfortunately, the research on this intervention is still mixed.
Currently, there is low-level evidence showing that PRP injections may provide short- and medium-term pain relief for osteoarthritis.
Stem cell therapyhas also been proposed as a potential management strategy.
Stem cells are thought to help regenerate cartilage and reduce inflammation levels.
Unfortunately, the evidence supporting this treatment is also still mixed.
Several low-quality studies found reduced evidence of osteoarthritis and diminished pain levels after receiving this treatment.
More research in this area is still necessary, however.
Does Treatment Reverse Osteoarthritis?
There is currently no evidence-based treatment that reverses osteoarthritis.
That said, the presence of OA on an X-ray does not necessarily mean that you will have symptoms.
It is possible to have osteoarthritis and minimal to no pain.
How Osteoarthritis Progresses
Osteoarthritis usually progresses slowly and gets worse as time goes on.
As the cartilage in a joint thins, friction increases with movement and triggers bone spurs.
Other factors like heavy loading of the affected joint and excessive body weight can also accelerate this process.
Fortunately, many cases of osteoarthritis are effectively managed with the conservative treatments listed above.
Working closely with a healthcare provider can help avoid these potential side effects and ensure a better long-term outlook.
National Institute on Aging.Osteoarthritis.
Allen KD, Golightly YM.State of the evidence.Current Opinion in Rheumatology.
Mass General Brigham.Knee braces for osteoarthritis.
