Osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term chronic disease characterized by the deterioration of the cartilage in joints which results in bones rubbing together and creating stiffness, pain, and impaired movement. The joints may have been impaired by a congenital defect, vascular insufficiency, or previous disease or injury. It is by far the commonest variety of arthritis.
When the smooth cushion between bones breakdown, the joint can get painful, swollen, and hard to move.
OA can affect any joint but it occurs most often in the hands, knees, hips, lower back, and neck. OA can happen at any age but it commonly starts in the 50s and affects women more than men. This disease starts gradually and worsens over time.
Causes
Overuse – using the same joint over and over in a job or sport can result.
Genes – people with family members who have OA are more commonly to develop OA.
Joint malformation
Poor posture
Risk factors
Obesity – extra weight puts more stress on joint and fats cells promote inflammation.
Age – older ages have the risk of developing OA.
Female sex – women are more likely to develop OA than men.
Anatomical factors.
Joint injury – a break or tear can lead to OA after years.
Muscle weakness – joints can get out of the right position when there is not enough support.
History of certain conditions such as diabetes, Marfan syndrome, Wilson's disease, joint infection, congenital disorders of joints, hemochromatosis.
Symptoms
Pain – “mechanical” type of pain which is generated by mobilization. It increases with fatigue and decreases with rest. Mostly there is no overnight pain. The intensity of pain is variable. Sometimes it’s dull and tolerable, other times it is very heavy with short peaks.
Limitation in movement – due to stiffness or pain in the joint. And mainly related to the blocking of voluntary muscle functioning and the reflex contracture. It’s also the result of changes in the articular spaces, with incongruent joint surfaces.
Crepitus sounds – can hear cracking, scraping, sounds, or crepitations. They are generated by the mobilization of the joint. Irregularities in the articulating joint surfaces and poor quality of the remaining cartilage are very likely to be the cause.
Mild swelling around the joint.
Muscle weakness around the joint.
Joint instability or buckling ( knees give out ).
Here are ways that OA may affect different parts of the body.
Hips: Pain is felt in the groin area or buttocks and sometimes on the inside of the knee or thigh.
Knees : a “grating” or “scraping” feeling when moving the knee.
Fingers : bony growth at the edge of the joints can cause fingers to become swollen, tender, and red. There may be a pain at the base of the thumb.
Feet: the big toe feels painful and tender. Ankles or toes may swell.
Health effects
Obesity, Diabetes, Heart disease: knee or hip pain makes it harder to exercise. That can cause worsen weight gain and lead to obesity. Being overweight or obese can lead to the development of high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure.
Falls: people with OA experience as much as 30% more falls and have a 20% greater risk of fracture than those without OA. Having OA can decrease function, weaken muscles, and make it more likely that someone has a fall. Side effects from pain medications, such as dizziness can also contribute to falls.
Osteoarthritis is diagnosed with the help of aspirations, MRI, and X rays.
Physiotherapy and medications are useful when treating patients with osteoarthritis.
Ashcharya Divyani
References
https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/osteoarthritis
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