Osteoarthritis has become a global burden affecting around 2.4 crore people. Worldwide estimates are that 9.6% of men and 18.0% of women aged over 60 years have symptomatic OA. 2.6 Crore people in India alone are affected by this dreaded devil. A lot of it has to do with lifestyle and age. Women are more prone to osteoarthritis than males, especially around age 50 and above.
Osteoarthritis is a condition where the joint gets inflamed thus eroding the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of involved bones. The bone ends thus wear down over time. Osteoarthritis mostly affects weight-bearing large joints like knee and back.
Being in the practice for so long we hear so many misperceptions related to osteoarthritis, some of them are just hilarious. Let’s begin our count down with the funny one first:
- Knuckle cracking causes Osteoarthritis
Knuckle cracking is manipulating one’s finger joints to produce a popping sound I remember my granny telling this. While it does not cause osteoarthritis but if practiced regularly it could be bad for tendons, joint capsule, and ligaments mostly due to forceful involvement of the tissue.
- Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are the same
Both are forms of arthritis and cause joint pain and degeneration but their origin, pathology are all different. While osteoarthritis is a result of wear and tear caused by ageing process, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder associated with the presence of HLA-DR 4 gene. While osteoarthritis restricts its effects on joints, rheumatoid arthritis has its effects on almost all systems of the body including cardiac and respiratory. While osteoarthritis affects weight-bearing large joints like knee and back, rheumatoid arthritis is mainly seen in smaller joints of hands.
- Osteoarthritis is caused by wearing high heels
While high heels are not good for your posture and disturb the normal body biomechanics affecting your back and leg muscles, there is no direct causative relationship with osteoarthritis. Wearing heels once a while at parties is no extra toll but if you carry them every day you are stepping towards a week back, weaker and painful legs, knees, and feet.
- Symptoms of Osteoarthritis is aggravated by exercises
On the contrary, exercises and physiotherapy are the only long term treatment for osteoarthritis unless you are planning for a knee replacement. Uncountable studies concluded the benefit of both above:
- In relieving weight from joints as in hydrotherapy or water exercises
- Removing the metabolites of inflammation and degeneration
- The increasing strength of involved muscles as through isometrics and progressive isotonic exercises
- Relieving pain through joint mobilization techniques and electrotherapeutical modalities
- Exercise also helps in weight management extremely essential for relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis
However, exercise programs are based on patient condition and disease pattern. Make sure to practice them under the supervision of an expert clinician.
- Medication for Osteoarthritis only help relieve pain
Proper Medications, when administered at an early stage of disease progression, can control the rate and intensity of disease advancement. There are anti-inflammation, muscle relaxing and pain easing effects along with certain viscosupplementation agent that substitutes the natural fluids in joints for easier movement. Medicines are developed after a great deal of research to make your life easier.
- Diet has no role in managing Osteoarthritis
Diet does not seem to cure the disease, but help relieve its symptoms. There are a lot of dos and don’ts for people with osteoarthritis, anti-inflammatory diet can recover symptoms. Consuming plenty of antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E help avert further damage to the joints.
- If you were active at your younger ages, you will not get Osteoarthritis
Being active is an anti-risk trait but not a guarantee. In fact, injuries during sports put you at a greater risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life.
- Both my parents have it, it’s just a matter of time, I will get it too
It puts you at a higher risk but again it’s not certain. A lot can be done to avoid it, a healthy lifestyle, diet, weight, and a smooth activity schedule will keep you miles away from osteoarthritis.
- Osteoarthritis is caused by calcium deficiency
Neither is there a direct association with the onset of osteoarthritis nor osteoarthritis causes bone loss. On the contrary, it is linked with amplified bone density and abnormal growths (osteophytes) due to the lack of bone resorption.
- Weather can cause Osteoarthritis
No, but it can trigger symptoms mostly pertaining to muscles.
I hope the article must have added to your information about osteoarthritis, well they say ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!’