Osteoarthritis is the most common joint injury in medical practice, associated with the degenerative dystrophic processes that occur in them.Mainly caused by the aging of the body and the destruction of joint tissue, the disease cannot be completely cured.However, according to experts, it is entirely possible for a person to slow down the destructive process, delay osteoarthritis and preserve joint health for a long time.
Osteoarthritis and its symptoms
The destruction of the joint begins with the gradual wear of the cartilage - the main element of this mobile connection of bones, which protects them at the point of contact from friction and serves as a shock absorber under mechanical loads.In most cases, this process is caused by age-related deterioration of metabolic processes in the human body and malnutrition of the joints.Therefore, symptoms of the disease usually appear after 40-50 years.However, the development of negative changes in cartilage tissue occurs at an earlier age and consists in the gradual loss of cartilage elasticity, its thinning and destruction.
The inability of cartilage to fully perform its functions causes negative changes in bone tissue, which can grow, forming osteophytes (growths in the form of tubercles, spines, hooks), which are a source of pain when moving.Gradually, the pathological process covers the articular muscles, ligaments and tendons.The gasket may become deformed.
The following symptoms indicate the development of osteoarthritis:
- pain that increases with movement and physical activity;
- decreased joint mobility;
- swelling and inflammation (in some cases);
- deformation and immobility of the joint (in severe forms of the disease).
Osteoarthritis mainly affects the knees, hip joints, lumbar and cervical spine and hands.
Causes of the disease and risk factors
The main causes of the destruction of articular cartilage and the development of osteoarthritis include:
- hereditary predisposition;
- joint injuries, which can be mild, but multiple and repeated, or single, but serious (for example, meniscal injuries);
- age-related changes in cartilage and bone tissue.
There are factors that increase the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis.The main ones are being overweight, which increases the load on the joints, and a sedentary lifestyle, which interferes with the normal blood supply and nutrition of the joints, worsening their metabolism.Excessive physical activity, local inflammatory processes, hormonal changes (e.g. menopause) can also provoke osteoarthritis.
Treatment or prevention?
A complete cure for this disease is impossible - this is the general verdict of rheumatologists, whose task is to combat arthrosis.Modern therapy can slow down the process of cartilage destruction, relieve inflammation, reduce pain and improve the patient's condition.Therefore, it is used to treat osteoarthritis:
- chondroprotectors based on chondroitin and glucosamine sulfates;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid or hormonal drugs;
- physiotherapeutic procedures (ultrasound, electrophoresis, laser and magnetic therapy, mud applications);
- physiotherapy.
In severe cases, they resort to surgery and replacement of the joint with a prosthesis.
Modern medicine considers that the main task of combating the disease is the prevention of osteoarthritis and the promotion of a lifestyle that helps maintain healthy joints.First of all, this applies to teenagers and young people actively involved in sports, who need to develop special skills to protect their joints during training (warming up and warming up the joints, using special protective devices: knee pads, elbow pads, etc.).For people who do not exercise, the main measures to prevent osteoarthritis are maintaining a normal weight and practicing physical activity.
Weight loss and nutrition
As a result of numerous studies, it has been established that obese people have a 3 times higher risk of developing arthrosis.This is explained not only by the fact that excess weight increases the load on the joints, but also by the fact that excess fat provokes the development of various pathological processes in the body, which lead to serious diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, which also negatively affects the condition of the joints.
Nutrition as a prevention of osteoarthritis aims to saturate the body with the nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of articular cartilage and slow down its degenerative processes.Following the following basic principles will not only help keep your joints in good shape, but also prevent you from gaining excess weight:
- reducing the calorie content of food by eliminating or limiting fatty meat and poultry;
- consume enough low-fat dairy products to provide calcium to your bones;
- increasing the proportion of cereals, vegetables and fruits to replenish the body with vitamins and microelements that joints need.
Special attention when eating should be paid to foods and dishes containing natural substances that protect and strengthen cartilaginous tissue.These substances mainly include collagen, a protein that is part of the cartilage, ligaments and skin of animals and fish.To do this, it is necessary to include jellied meat, jelly (especially fish), fruit jelly and other dishes containing gelatin - modified collagen in the diet.
Physical activity to prevent osteoarthritis
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main enemies of human health, including the musculoskeletal system.While physical activity allows you to simultaneously achieve many objectives necessary for maintaining joints and general well-being:
- improves blood supply and tissue nutrition;
- normalizes metabolic processes and prevents excessive weight gain;
- develops muscles, which in turn strengthens the skeletal system;
- trains all body systems and improves immunity;
- helps improve mood.
To keep joints in good condition, they must not be overloaded.But that doesn't mean you should abandon physical activity.Movement is absolutely necessary for the joints, but it must be moderate and correspond to the physical shape, age and other individual characteristics of each person.
Experts say that walking is the best prevention of knee osteoarthritis at any age and recommend taking at least 6,000 steps daily.Swimming is very beneficial when the movement occurs without the negative impact of body weight on the bones.Practicing any preferred sport or activity related to movement (dancing, gardening, playing outdoors with children), as long as it is regular, will help prevent osteoarthritis and keep joints in good condition for a long time.