Arthritis

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, which involves the degeneration of the cartilage located in the joints. Cartilage is the tissue, which is rubbery but firm and that acts as a protective covering at the ends of bones in joints. Cartilage is the shock absorber and reduces friction between the joints. Osteoarthritis can affect any joints in the body, but usually joints that bear weight such as spine, knees and hips are badly affected by it. When osteoarthritis affects the cartilage of any individual, it loses its normal elasticity and turns very stiff. As the cartilage faces the damage, the ligaments and the tendons stretches, which causes pain in the joints of the affected individual. This disease could cause due to several reasons- Genetic, hereditary, tension and stress. Physiotherapy for osteoarthritis is the only treatment that could cure the disease at the root. Arthritis is very common but is not well understood. Actually, “arthritis” is not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions. People of all ages, sexes and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older. Common arthritis joint symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms may come and go. They can be mild, moderate or severe. They may stay about the same for years, but may progress or get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to do daily activities and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs. Arthritis can cause permanent joint changes. These changes may be visible, such as knobby finger joints, but often the damage can only be seen on X-ray. Some types of arthritis also affect the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and skin as well as the joints.