Do you know what osteoarthritis is? This rheumatic disease is also popularly known as arthrosis or osteoarthrosis. Many people believe that this is a natural aging process. However, osteoarthritis is a disease caused by insufficient cartilage in the body, resulting in changes in the affected limbs.proce
A survey by the American College of Rheumatology, published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatologyrevealed an increase in the number of cases worldwide.
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According to the study, based on data covering the period between 1990 and 2019, there was an overall increase in cases of 113.25% in the period studied. The jump was from 247.5 million in 1990 to almost 528 million in 2019.
In Brazil, it is estimated that about 12 million Brazilians have osteoarthritis, equivalent to 6.3% of the adult population. The prevalence increases among the elderly: after the age of 65, 85% have radiological evidence of the disease.
The impact caused by the disease on the individual’s life is significant, considering that osteoarthritis leads to the inability to perform day-to-day activities, absences from work and loss of quality of life. Therefore, recognizing the symptoms of the disease and seeking appropriate treatment is essential. Check out!
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is also given names like osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease. This disease is the most frequent among rheumatologic diseases, representing about 30 to 40% of consultations in rheumatology offices.
Osteoarthritis is degenerative, meaning it progressively deteriorates health. It usually affects more women, commonly affecting places such as hands and knees. In males, the affected areas are the hip joint (femur with the pelvis).
Over the years, the rates of osteoarthritis increase, being uncommon before the age of 40, and more frequent after the age of 60. In people aged 75 years, at least 85% have radiological or clinical evidence of the disease.
However, only 30 to 50% of these people complain of chronic pain. Osteoarthritis is characterized by cartilage wear and bone changes. Among these alterations are the osteophytes, popularly known as parrot beaks.
The disease is divided into primary (with no known cause) or secondary (with a known cause). The causes can be numerous, from joint defects, knees with deviation of direction and even changes in metabolism.
Age also plays an important role, especially in clinical presentations, such as nodules of the fingers, called Heberden’s nodes (in the knuckle of the fingers) or Bouchard (in the knuckle between the fingers).
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
The symptoms of osteoarthritis develop gradually and affect one or a few joints at first. Joints of fingers, base of thumbs, neck, lower back, big toes, hips and knees are the areas commonly affected.
The pain of this disease is described as deep, being the first symptom presented. When it happens in joints that support the body’s weight, it is usually made worse by activities that involve support, such as standing.
In some people, the involved joint becomes stiff after sleep or inactivity. However, the stiffness usually disappears within 30 minutes, especially when the joint is moved.
As the disease causes more symptoms, the joints may become less mobile, unable to fully extend or flex. Joints can become enlarged with the growth of new bone and other tissue.
In addition, irregularities in the cartilage surface can cause scraping, creaking, and crackling noises during movement. Bone growth commonly develops in the joints closest to the fingertips, called nodules.
How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?
Doctors make the diagnosis of osteoarthritis based on characteristic symptoms, physical and blood tests, and findings on radiographs of the joints. However, radiographs may not be very useful for the early detection of the disease, as they do not show changes in the cartilage, where the first abnormalities occur.
Also, the changes on the radiograph usually do not correspond to the symptoms presented by the person. That is, an X-ray may show only a small change in an individual with severe symptoms, or it may show numerous changes in a person with few or no symptoms.
Magnetic resonance imaging can reveal early changes in cartilage, although it is rarely necessary for diagnosis. There are no blood tests to diagnose osteoarthritis. However, they can help rule out other diseases with similar symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis, for example.
If the joint is swollen, the doctor may inject an anesthetic into the area and insert a needle to collect a sample of joint fluid. This fluid can also be examined to differentiate osteoarthritis from other common joint diseases, such as infection and gout.
How to treat osteoarthritis?
Since osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease, its treatment involves controlling symptoms and alternatives that help recover the loss of mobility caused by the disease and maintain joint flexibility. These goals can be achieved through medication, physical measures such as strength, flexibility, endurance and rehabilitation exercises, and, ultimately, surgery.
Medicines
Medications used to treat osteoarthritis are used to complement exercise and physical therapy. The drugs can be used in combination or alone, without directly altering the course of the disease. Medications are used as a way to reduce symptoms and thus allow the person to carry out normal daily activities.
physical measurements
With exercises suitable for the treatment of osteoarthritis, such as stretching, strengthening and posture exercises, it is possible to keep the cartilage healthy, increase the range of movement of the joint and, above all, strengthen the muscles that surround it, so that they can better absorb the effort. .
Exercise can also delay the worsening of hip and knee disease. Doctors recommend that people with osteoarthritis exercise in water to spare their joints the strain.
Activities should be balanced with a few minutes of rest when joints are sore, but immobilizing the joint tends to exacerbate the condition, not relieve it. Using overly soft chairs, armchairs, mattresses, and seats can worsen osteoarthritis symptoms.
It is important to avoid using pillows under the knees when lying down, as this can cause stiffness in the hip and knee muscles. In general, it is recommended to use upright seats, straight-back chairs, firm mattresses and bed boards, as well as supportive shoes or athletic shoes.
For people who suffer from osteoarthritis of the spine, specific exercises can help, requiring the use of orthopedic braces for the back when the pain is severe. Activities should include muscle-strengthening exercises and low-impact aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, and stationary biking. If possible, people are encouraged to maintain normal daily activities while continuing to carry out their normal duties, such as having fun and working.
However, physical activities need to be adjusted to avoid bending and worsening osteoarthritis pain. Other additional ways that can help relieve pain for those living with osteoarthritis are:
- Physiotherapy,
- Heat therapy, such as hot compresses;
- Occupational therapy;
- Range of motion exercises in the water improving muscle function, reducing muscle stiffness and spasm;
- Cold may be applied to reduce pain caused by temporary worsening in a joint;
- Insoles (orthotics), supportive shoes or athletic shoes;
- Special equipment, such as canes, crutches, walkers, cervical collar or elastic knee tensioner, protecting joints from overuse;
- Weight loss, helping to relieve some pressure on the joints;
- Electrical stimulation, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
- Acupuncture;
- Massage and deep heat treatment with diathermy or ultrasound.
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