Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in the United States and can cause pain, stiffness, and limitation in daily activities. Unfortunately, many people feel forced to give up their favorite sport or lifestyle as a result of being labeled “osteoarthritis.”
A diagnosis of ‘osteoarthritis’ can be confusing.
What does it mean? Does this mean that you cannot cycle, walk, hike or exercise without pain? How should you treat it and what can you do to prevent it from getting worse?
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, occurs when the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in your joints gradually deteriorates. The degenerative process, which typically affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips and hands, causes thinning of the cartilage, narrowing of joint spaces and reduced cushioning between the bones. This breakdown process puts more pressure on the sensitive surface of the bones in the joint, causing inflammation, pain, bone spurs and further wear and tear of the joint.
Being diagnosed with osteoarthritis does NOT mean that you cannot or should not have an active lifestyle. On the contrary, activity can actually improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis and slow or stop its progression. Many people with osteoarthritis lead an active, healthy lifestyle, without restrictions.
Osteoarthritis affects more than 32.5 million Americans and is usually diagnosed by physical examination and an X-ray. Based on the X-ray images, doctors will look for a smaller distance between the bones in the joint and for signs of inflammation. They will look at how much cartilage there is in the joint to protect the underlying bone from further wear and tear. They will also look for bone fragments or ‘spurs’ that are sticking into the joint and could cause more pain.
X-ray findings should be compared with a physical examination to assess actual loss of range of motion, stiffness, weakness, and activity limitations before determining a treatment plan.
Did you know that there are people with osteoarthritis who are NOT symptomatic? They have no pain, stiffness, swelling, or disability associated with the condition. In fact, they may not even know they have it!
Evidence of degenerative joint changes can be seen in young adults to older adults, but the risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age.
Some of the risk factors that contribute to the development of osteoarthritis include:
Osteoarthritis is a progressive condition that keeps getting worse if nothing is done to reduce pressure and wear on the joint.
Joint wear and tear that causes inflammation, swelling and stiffness leads to more weakness, further breakdown, more stiffness and more disability. The cycle continues if no change is made to break the cycle.
Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, it is possible to slow or stop the progression of osteoarthritis through appropriate interventions…and most people don’t realize this!
Someone with osteoarthritis may experience periods of ‘flare-ups’, where the joint suddenly becomes swollen, stiff and/or painful. There may also be periods when symptoms disappear, range of motion is restored, and the joint feels relatively normal.
Controlling the “controllable factors” is an important tactic in managing osteoarthritis so that flare-ups don’t become worse than they need to be. Knowing what to do to calm a flare-up is an important step in long-term management and will help you continue doing the activities and sports you love.
Normal range of motion (ROM) helps spread the forces on the joint; Good STRENGTH helps support the joint; and good MOVEMENT PATTERNS help reduce abnormal forces on the joint. These concepts form the basis of what will SLOW or STOP the worsening of degenerative joint disease.
Losing weight if you are overweight, strengthening the muscles around the hip and knee, maintaining mobility and flexibility, and controlling inflammation and pain are important strategies to prevent osteoarthritis from worsening.
While it may seem like activity may initially cause more pain and swelling, physical activity has actually been proven to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life for people with degenerative joint disease. Exercise promotes circulation and can lead to more pain-free days. Of course, you need to make sure you choose the right activity, progress the right way, and listen to your body.
A great place to start is by improving mobility and flexibility with simple stretching exercises.
Physical therapy has been proven to relieve symptoms, increase activity tolerance and improve the quality of life for people with osteoarthritis using a structured approach to restore range of motion, functional strength and balance.
If you want to live an active lifestyle, exercise and enjoy the outdoors, ACL STRONG provides an expert training progression to strengthen your legs and core, improve balance and body control, and learn how to benefit your body and lifestyle in the long term. can protect. This is an online program and an excellent option if you want the convenience and freedom of exercising independently at home, while still receiving expert guidance and support.
Your doctor may be willing to try hyaluronic acid which can be injected into the affected arthritic joint. This fluid is similar in makeup to your body’s synovial fluid, which is like oil in your car. An injectable can lubricate affected bone and joint tissue to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis, making you feel more comfortable and delaying the need for surgery.
Arthroscopic surgery is an option when an orthopedic surgeon is confident that symptoms can be reduced by clearing out the surface tissue in the affected joint. Arthroscopic surgery is performed by placing small incisions in the joint to remove damaged tissue and create a smoother surface. The surgery will facilitate increased blood flow to the joint, which can help ‘restart’ the healing process and reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
In cases where more conservative treatments have failed to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life, joint replacement surgery may become the best option. Replacing the degenerated joint surface with mechanical components can give you the recovery you need to be as active as you want.
Recovery from joint replacement surgery will involve several months of activity progression and physical therapy. Although the timeline varies for everyone, most patients return to normal activities and exercise, such as walking, biking, golfing, tennis, weight lifting, housework, and yard work. With hard work, dedication and consistency, many can return to their previous sports and activities at a higher level.
Osteoarthritis should NOT be daunting or intimidating. Receiving a diagnosis of osteoarthritis does not have to be confusing.
👉 How you deal with your condition is up to you. You CAN lead an active, healthy and sporty lifestyle, with the presence of degenerative joint diseases. Manage it with exercise, nutrition, making good choices and expert support, and you can continue living the lifestyle you choose. 💪
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