OSTEOARTHRITIS-LEADING DISEASE IN WORLD

Hello Readers,

After long time right.......

Here with very common disease and its information....

                        OSTEOARTHRITIS

A FAMOUS DISEASE WITH LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Let's check the etymology.....
    
                  OSTEO- BONE
                  ARTHO-JOINT
                  ITIS-SWELLING OR INFLAMMATION

 Osteoarthritis is also known as Degenerative joint disease.
As a synonym, it explains that it occurs in aged person and as age progresses disease also progress.

But wait, I have more to share....,
First definition,
     
Osteoarthritis is degenerative joint disease that features the break down and eventual loss of cartilage of one or more joints.

Now lets know what is CARTILAGE???
Cartilage is protein substance that serves as a cushion between bone of joints.

CAUSES OF OSTEOARTHRITIS 

• Age
• Hereditary
• Lifestyle
• Obesity which leads pressure on hip,knee,sometimes lower back OA
• Injury or trauma to joints or bones
• Bone disease like cancer 
• Infection like bone TB
• Overuse of joint like OA of hand fingers to violin player

Joints commonly involved are

•  knees(most common)
  

• hands,fingertips(Herbenden nodes)
  

• spine ,typically neck(computer workers),lower back(long standing jobs like teacher,air hostess)
  

• Hips most commonly due to injury or congenital problem(Birth) 
  

SYMPTOMS

• PAIN-It is due to cartilage wash off and bone to bone contact( i want to share that bone has periosteal layer that perceives highest level of pain)
• TENDERNESS-Discomfort when pressing on area with fingers
• SWELLING-Increase amount of synovial fluid
• JOINT INSTABILITY
• STIFFNESS-Due to pain ,bone spurs(osteophytes),muscle weakness
• JOINT DEFORMITY

Symptoms of spine OA are same but if occurs at severe stage that presses the nuerovascular bundles and giddiness, numbness,tingling are the symptoms.All things  happen in cervical spine OA

In lower back involvement leads to siatica(tingling and pain in calf and lower leg.

DIAGNOSIS

As it is slow developing disease it is hard to diagnose until symptoms are experienced.
Doctor check for symptoms like tenderness and level of pain.
Than diagnostic tools are use.

X-rays

MRI scan
Blood test to rule out any other condition like RA
Joint fluid analysis to rule out Gout or any infection

Treatment

As its a developing disease it is not reversed but it can be stopped from progressing....BY

• Weight loss
• Adequate sleep
• Diet modification, diet include high levels of vitamin C,D,beta-carotene,omega-3 fatty acids.
  

Symptomatic treatment is done with oral analgesics,topical analgesics,NSAIDS like ibuprofen,naproxen
Corticosteroid injection directly into joint to reduce pain.

Patient should use supportive brace for joint which is involved to prevent joint instability.For cervical spine collar is use and for lower back belts are used for stability and support.

ACUPUNCTURE can also be use to reduce pain.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TREATMENT NEED FOR OA IS PHYSIOTHERAPY OR PHYSICAL THERAPY.

As articular cartilage is washing off day by day we cant stop it but we can make the muscles around joint much stronger that they can support joint and can take load of body and reduces pain.

Like if a company founder gets old but the employees of that company are so trained that founder is present or not or getting old company can relay on employees.

THAT'S THE AIM OF PHYSIOTHERAPY

It includes pain reducing modalities 

• Cold therapy or Hot therapy
• Electrotherapy TENS (trancutaneous electrical stimulation)
  
• Ultrasound reduces pain and improves aerobic environment for healing
  

Now STRENGTHENING OF MUSCLES AROUND AFFECTED JOINT

Its done by isometric,isotonic contraction of muscles.

Isometric means no change in length of muscle 
Isotonic means moving joint throughout range of muscle

Endurance is increase by increasing number of sets of exercises

Lets take example of knee OA which most common 
Treatment include Quadriceps and Hamstrings strenthening

STRETCHING is also a part of treatment which maintains the flexibility of muscle and help exchange nutrients to joint which helps to reduce pain.

AEROBICS is also helpful to maintain health of overall body.

HYDROTHERAPY is useful for lower body joints OA were buoyancy is force which provides minimal pressure to joints and strengthen the muscles 

If joint is severely affected then surgery is helpful like joint replacement .

BUT after surgery physiotherapy is must to regain mobility.


I had try cover all aspects of OA and its physiotherapy treatment.
IF query u can mail me.......

DO EXERCISE DAILY PREVENT OA....

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