With aging, an individual faces lot of physical problems and disorders. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints that is usually associated with aging which is caused due to degeneration of a protein substance in the joints namely cartilage. Different body parts such as feet, spine, hand, wrists and weight-bearing joints like knee and hip are affected by this disorder. Because of aging, joint injuries, obesity, some genetic factors and inflammatory response, there is a breakdown of cartilage resulting in irritation and inflammation of the cartilage which can cause pain, swelling, tenderness and inflammation in the joints.
All these conditions can cause difficulties in daily activities such as walking, sitting, climbing up and down stairs etc. The quality of life may be significantly deteriorated due to joint pain and loss of mobility. There may be some complications of osteoarthritis in the advanced stage. Due to rapid degeneration of cartilage, it breaks into small pieces and float inside the joint fluid which causes an irritation to other soft tissues which is known as chondrolysis. As the disease progresses, there is inflammation in the joints due to total loss of cartilage. The bones start to rub on each other due to formation of bony spurs.
Other possible complications of osteoarthritis are osteonecrosis (bone death), stress fractures, bleeding inside the joint, infection in the joint, deterioration of ligaments and tendons, pinched nerve, sacroillitis, ganglion cysts, spinal stenosis, water on knee and Herberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes. All these complications may give rise to decreased ability to perform the daily activities such as walking, sitting down, climbing and cooking. Because of this disability, there may be adverse effects on physical and mental health of a person. Hence, it is very important to adopt some preventive measures to maintain the flexibility and mobility of joints.
It is said that prevention is always better than cure and after knowing the complications of osteoarthritis, you will realize that it is very true in case of osteoarthritis. Maintaining a normal body weight is an important step in the prevention of osteoarthritis. As excessive body weight puts an extra strain on the joints which can give rise to osteoarthritis. Hence, weight control is beneficial for the joints as well as for overall health. You can maintain great fitness levels by exercises and balanced diet.
Regular exercise is also a significant factor in prevention of this disease. Exercise may help reduce stiffness and pain in the joints, increasing the strength of joints and muscles and improving the flexibility and mobility of the joints. In addition to that, your diet plays an important role in preventing osteoarthritis. Your diet should be rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and foods containing vitamins, minerals and calcium. Avoid intake of excessive salts, dairy products, fats and alcoholic beverages.
As joint injury is one of the possible causes of osteoarthritis, try to protect your joints from any kind of injury. Avoid putting excessive strain on the joints and for that, adopt some changes in your daily activities and life style. You may take advantage of some assistive devices that are designed for arthritis.
