15/07/2022
Osteoarthritis-OA- is a common type of arthritis that manifests; as a result breakdown and degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone, It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. In most cases, it affects the elderly, but young people can also have Osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis mainly affects the neck, hands, low back, knees, and hip joint.
Cartilage is the soft material that covers the end of bones in healthy joints. Its works are to reduce friction in the joints and also to act as a shock absorber in the joints. In healthy cartilage, shock-absorbing qualities come from its ability to change shape when compressed (flattened or pressed together) during movement. When it's affected, the cartilage becomes stiff, and this causes to lose its elasticity. As time goes by, the cartilage may wear away in some areas, significantly decreasing its shock-absorbing quality. As it deteriorates, tendons and ligaments stretch to cover the increasing distance where the cartilage is degraded, causing pain. In severe cases, the bones could rub against each other once the cartilage is completely damaged.
Osteoarthritis has no cure, by the change of lifestyle and healthy living, medication and supplementation you are able to live a normal pain-free life and also take care of the osteoarthritis progression. You can completely stop it from progression.
Risk factors that can cause Osteoarthritis
1. Heredity- if inherited from your parents.
2. Aging- in most cases osteoarthritis affects people from the age of 40 and above but it can also affect young people.
3. Injury- either an accident or a joint injury when doing your normal activities
4. Obesity- too much weight exerts a lot of pressure on your weight carrying joints; the hands, feet, knee joints, and hip joints.
5. Overuse of the joints- too much heavy work that has adverse effects on your joints
6. Other underlying diseases- like rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, Diabetes, obesity, hormone disorders, repeated trauma or surgery, congenital abnormalities- abnormal joints during birth.
Knee Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis-OA- is a common type of arthritis that manifests; as a result breakdown and degeneration of joint cartilage and the underl...