Osteoarthritis is a chronic rheumatic condition that damages the articular cartilage and gradually wears it down. It causes pain, stiffness and functional disability, which prevents some movements from being carried out normally. such as clenching your hand, climbing stairs, or walking.
Additional to this, It mainly affects the joints that support the most weight and make the greatest effort, such as the hips, knees, shoulders and spine. according to the Cinfasalud portal, from Spain. Its appearance in some fingers of the hands is also frequent. It can affect only one or two joints or be generalized.
The main symptom of this disease is pain, which usually appears when an effort is required from the diseased joint. Other common symptoms are joint deformities and limitation of mobility with pressure pain, clicking and joint crepitus.
According to the Navarra University Clinic, The causes behind this condition may be related to traumatic, vascular, congenital and imbalance factors. Therefore, the entity recommends a series of activities so that patients diagnosed with this disease can improve their quality of life.
- Exercises that cause pain should not be done.
- Moderate exercise, 10 to 20 minutes a day, such as walking on flat ground or riding a bicycle, is good for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.
- Rest for 2 or 3 days if the pain is chronic.
- It is necessary not to be overweight, especially for knee osteoarthritis.
- In general, the diet should be varied.
- Use the cane on the healthy side to help you walk.
- Use heat or cold, whichever relieves you, but no more than 20-30 minutes a day.
- In the mornings, when you have greater stiffness and pain, a hot shower with a strong jet is recommended to warm the joints and local massage.
- Wear shoes without high heels and without laces to avoid having to bend over.
- The diet must contain milk and its derivatives.
- Sleep on a hard mattress and sit on straight-backed chairs.
- Don’t hold a posture for a long time, don’t stand still for a long time. Avoid harmful postures like kneeling and squatting.
- Take the elevator instead of the stairs.
- Do not force the joints, avoid sudden movements.
- Do not walk loaded with things, use the shopping cart.
- If you have the opportunity, go to a spa, it allows you to exercise while floating without putting weight on the joints and will relieve the pain.
- Don’t self-medicate. Take any painkillers your GP prescribes.
- In osteoarthritis of the hands, the use of appropriate household tools and utensils is recommended. They must be of wide handle and of little weight.
- In order not to force the joints, use aids, such as electric can openers.
- Appropriate footwear must be worn. Elastic but firm shoes made of non-synthetic materials are recommended.
According to the portal Physioonlineosteoarthritis has several stages:
Phase 1
Loss of flexibility of the articular cartilage, you can also suffer a decrease in the thickness of the cartilage of the joint.
Level 2
Cartilage wear causes changes in the underlying bone. This process can generate bone or cartilage widening.
Phase 3
Release of small pieces of bone or cartilage that will float in the synovial fluid (intra-articular mouse), this can block the joint, and joint wear is accelerated.
Phase 4
The joint capsule becomes inflamed, causing an increase in inflammatory cells and substances in the process of bone disintegration, in Fisionline point out that “in this phase, peri-articular ligamentous and tendon muscle involvement is also observed”.
