Strategies for preventing arthritis progression -
Osteoarthritis OA is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees. With OA, the cartilage within a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change. These changes usually develop slowly and get worse over time. OA can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling.
In some cases it also causes reduced function and disability; some people are no longer able to do daily tasks or work. There is no cure for OA, so doctors usually treat OA symptoms with various therapies, which may include:. In addition to these treatments, people can gain confidence in managing their OA with self-management strategies.
These strategies help reduce pain and disability so people with osteoarthritis can pursue the activities that are important to them. Some people are concerned that physical activity will make their arthritis worse, but joint-friendly physical activity can actually improve arthritis pain, function, and quality of life.
Learn more about how important physical activity is for people with arthritis and how to exercise safely. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages. Minus Related Pages.
What are the risk factors for OA? Joint injury or overuse—Injury or overuse, such as knee bending and repetitive stress on a joint, can damage a joint and increase the risk of OA in that joint.
Age—The risk of developing OA increases with age. Sex—Women are more likely to develop OA than men, especially after age Obesity—Extra weight puts more stress on joints, particularly weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees. This stress increases the risk of OA in that joint.
Also, obesity may also have metabolic effects that increase the risk of OA. Genetics—People who have family members with OA are more likely to develop OA. Osteoarthritis in another body location: People who have hand OA are more likely to develop knee OA.
Race— Some Asian populations have lower risk for OA. How is OA diagnosed? How is OA treated? There is no cure for OA, so doctors usually treat OA symptoms with various therapies, which may include: Increasing physical activity Physical therapy with muscle strengthening exercises Weight loss Medications, including over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription drugs Supportive devices such as crutches or canes Surgery typically joint replacement, if other treatment options have not been effective In addition to these treatments, people can gain confidence in managing their OA with self-management strategies.
Signs and Symptoms of OA. Pain or aching Stiffness Decreased range of motion or flexibility Swelling. How many people have OA? What causes OA? OA is caused by damage or breakdown of joint cartilage between bones. Physical Activity for Arthritis Some people are concerned that physical activity will make their arthritis worse, but joint-friendly physical activity can actually improve arthritis pain, function, and quality of life.
How can I manage OA and improve my quality of life? Learn self-management skills. Join a self-management education class, which helps people with arthritis and other chronic conditions—including OA—understand how arthritis affects their lives and increase their confidence in controlling their symptoms and living well.
It won't guarantee total relief of your osteoarthritis symptoms, however. Surgery is also only considered for severe osteoarthritis cases when other types of treatments have been inadequate.
Make healthy lifestyle choices. We can't change certain OA risk factors. For example, you are more likely to develop OA when you get older, likely because of how many cartilage cells just diminish over time.
Some individuals also inherit genes that make them more likely to develop the condition. Because of risk factors like these, it's important that you make healthy lifestyle choices. Exercise, diet, managing stress, sleep, smoke, and alcohol consumption may have a significant influence on your joints and overall health.
Keep a healthy weight. Being overweight can increase your chances of developing OA in a couple of ways:. Excess weight adds extra stress on your weight-bearing joints i.
Inflammatory factors linked with weight gain may contribute to problems in other joints i. Take your knees, for example.
The force on your knees when walking across the level ground is equal to one and a half times your body weight. This means pounds of pressure is added to a pound man's knees with every step. When you squat down to pick up something you dropped or tie your shoes, your knees are carrying four to five times the weight of your body.
Losing weight can make a significant impact on decreasing the pressure on your knees and will help protect your knees going forward. Enhance your self-management skills. Take a self-management class. These classes are designed to help individuals with arthritis and other types of chronic disorders, like osteoarthritis, understand the way arthritis impacts their lives.
They also help increase confidence in managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Schedule routine follow-ups with your doctor. You can be active in your arthritis management by scheduling and attending routine appointments with your doctor as well as following the treatment plan they've tailored for you.
This is particularly essential if you have other chronic disorders, like heart disease or diabetes. While osteoarthritis is manageable, it is a degenerative disease. If you ignore it, it will become worse over time.
Arthritis is a significant reason behind adult disability. Therefore, it's important that you don't hesitate to talk with your doctor about any symptoms you're experiencing. Researchers are continually studying potential osteoarthritis treatment options and the possibility of reversion.
There's definitely hope for better future treatment alternatives, but in the meantime, the best approach is slowing the progression of the condition as much as possible. Osteoarthritis OA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Whole-foods, plant-based diet alleviates the symptoms of osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis Arthritis Foundation. Poor replicability of recommended exercise interventions for knee osteoarthritis: a descriptive analysis of evidence informing current guidelines and recommendations Diabetes is a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis progression Slowing osteoarthritis progression Arthritis Foundation.
Recent advances in the treatment of osteoarthritis [version 1; peer review: 3 approved] F Research. Why weight matters when it comes to joint pain Harvard Health Publishing.
Osteoarthritis, obesity and weight loss: evidence, hypotheses and horizons — a scoping review Osteoarthritis Sep Osteoarthritis Aug Explore clinical trials for osteoarthritis and see those actively looking for patients near you. Learn more about proven and effective treatment options for osteoarthritis.
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Osteoarthritis Improving immune system function Strategies for preventing arthritis progression a disease in which the cartilage between proggession bones of your joints breaks down, leading to Srategies, pain, and stiffness. Joint injury, obesity, and aging are some important Progdession risk factors. Preventnig than 32 orogression adults in the U. We make it easy for you to participate in a clinical trial for Osteoarthritis, and get access to the latest treatments not yet widely available - and be a part of finding a cure. You can't reverse osteoarthritis, but you can manage the condition and slow its progression down. This is because certain products and medications can interact with each other, causing side effects. The scientific community is studying treatment options for osteoarthritis, and researchers are searching for ways to reverse this condition.
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