KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS:
Osteoarthritis is a progressive and hidden disease. It starts as early as in the teens. It is characterized by pain, stiffness and inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis often affects the knees, hips, lower back and neck of the patients. Doctors diagnose osteoarthritis by taking X-rays and MRI scans of various parts of the body to examine joint fluid content and bone structure.
Doctors have come up with ways to prevent osteoarthritis from progressing; one would be physiotherapy treatment for the affected area. They do this to reduce pain, improve mobility and prevent damage to joints that could lead to disability or more severe symptoms in later stages (Lambert et al.). A healthy lifestyle can also help people avoid developing osteoarthritis by maintaining a good weight, getting enough sleep and drinking enough water per day.
CAUSES OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS:
Arthritis is caused by wear-and-tear inside the knee joint over many years or as a result of an injury to the knee. The symptoms of arthritic knees include pain, swelling, and stiffness. In order to keep their joints healthy and pain-free, people need to maintain healthy lifestyles that include regular exercise and a balanced diet.
A physiotherapist will assess the health of your knee. They will recommend exercises that suit your needs along with general information about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Physiotherapy and healthy lifestyle such as exercise, weight control, and healthy diet may slow progression of osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of this disease and it can be found in people of all ages. This condition is a degeneration of cartilage, the tissue that covers and protects the bones in the joints.
SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS:
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects the joints. It causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. In most cases, it affects joints of your hands, hips, knees and back. Knee osteoarthritis can lead to disability in some cases. Obesity may contribute to the progression of this disease. We should avoid becoming obese as much as possible because it can also lead to knee osteoarthritis. Being overweight increases the pressure on the joint and at a certain point will lead to deterioration of cartilage or total knee replacement. Recent studies show that people who have knee osteoarthritis are more likely to have a high BMI, previous injury or surgery on their knees, and arthritis in their hips. This means that some of these factors can increase a person’s risk of having knee osteoarthritis or make it worse.
Knee Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition which can be caused due to the deterioration of the cartilage in the knee joint. It can often result in pain, swelling, stiffness and difficulty with activities of daily living. The prevention of knee osteoarthritis often revolves around how someone moves and how they live their day to day lives. It is important to maintain a healthy weight and limit the amount of time spent in an idle position for long periods.
CAN DIET HELP WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS?
YES. There are also foods that help in reducing or preventing knee osteoarthritis which include: grapefruit, celery, kale, sour cherries, blueberries, strawberries and ginger.