What is OA? - Osteoarthritis Lifestyle

What is Osteoarthritis (OA) ?

X-Ray showing HIP Osteoarthritis

Affected Joints

Hands, hips, knees, back, neck and spine.
Lower back pain (LBP) is the most widespread health condition among people younger than 45 years old.
OA can affect any joint, including ligaments, muscles, and joint space.^{4, 11, 13, 26}

Limitations & Pain

Pain is the most noticeable sign of osteoarthritis, but stiffness, instability, and weakness are also frequently noted.
Issues stem in daily functional limitations, trouble doing tasks and a deterioration in the quality of life (QoL), and systemic inflammation.^1,2a,13
There are also multiple functional limitations, including muscle weakness, limited joint range of motion, and joint instability.

Exercise

Guidelines strongly encourage exercise as an effective non-pharmaceutical method which can alleviate pain and enhance physical function.
It is crucial to acknowledge that a deficiency of physical activity can exacerbate the condition.^3a

My message is Keep Moving - If you do, you'll keep arthritis at bay.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis and is also known as degenerative joint disease.¹

As the cartilage between the joints wears away, deteriorates or breaks down, the joints get stiff, painful, and difficult to move. Once the cartilage has been completely worn away, the bone will rub against the bone. When a person has OA, the entire joint is affected and is a source of discomfort that leads to significant everyday functional limitations and impairment in people with limited mobility.

There is presently no solution for OA, and 500 million individuals are affected by the disease. ^1,13,24,25

How Do You Get OA?
a) Age: osteoarthritis risk can increase with age.
b) Obesity: being overweight can increase your risk. Weight gain increases the strain on the weight bearing joints, such as knees.
c) Previous joint traumas, recurrent joint stress, bone anomalies, hereditary factors, and some metabolic diseases may also play a role.
d) Inherited muscular weakness.

Symptoms and Signs:
a) Pain: Joints affected by the disease may endure pain discomfort during or after movement.
b) Joint Stiffness: may be most apparent upon awakening or following inactivity, which can include joint inflammation and muscle weakness.
c) Loss of Adaptability: Restricted Range of Motion—An individual may not be able to move a joint through to its full range of motion.
d) Grating sensation: when the joint is utilized, a grating sensation develops, and you may hear popping and cracking sounds
e) Bone Spurs: are additional bone fragments that can develop around a damaged joint and feel like hard nodules. X-rays and radiography demonstrate the existence of osteophytes and sclerosis of the bone.

What Does One Do If They Have OA?

According To Research

EXERCISE IS MEDICINE ²⁷

Exercise CAN Prevent Or Treat A Wide Variety Of Chronic Diseases

Although The Advantages Of Surgery Are Well-Known – Prior Care And Self-Maintenance Is An Important Goal –

Individuals awaiting hip or knee replacement surgery may experience significant pain and immobility.

If exercise and other therapies fail to alleviate pain, surgery is often useful for lowering discomfort and enhancing physical function, such as the capacity to walk, transfer in and out of seats, and complete daily household tasks.

Exercise is the most effective non-drug treatment for reducing pain and enhancing mobility in osteoarthritis patients.⁷

In OA treatment, exercise is vital for decreasing pain, improving function, and building self-efficacy.^5a

Every form of exercise adds to the upkeep of maintenance and improvement of mobility and functional capacity.

Walking and swimming are especially beneficial for many OA patients.⁷

Where does OA Originate?

The author of this site has experienced OA in both hips, knees and lower back. During a period of years, not only does the author believe these procedures are successful, but she is also living proof that they are.

Few thirty- to fifty-year-old women suffer from osteoarthritis, according to a study. Typically, it is the generation older than 65.

The essential question is: Where does OA originate?

Despite the fact that genetics may play a role, numerous other factors, such as stress and obesity, may also play a role. After receiving a medical diagnosis, physical activity, particularly aquatic exercises and water therapy, aids in maintaining mobility, although further interventions and treatments are still necessary to preserve functionality.

Combining weight loss, exercise, and physical therapy can be quite beneficial. During this period, the author has become an outstanding elite athlete by cycling, walking, and swimming over 10 miles each day while loosing over 200 pounds.

According to experts, there is a significant likelihood that a person will be confined to a wheelchair in absent of physical treatment. The objective of osteoarthritis therapies is to eliminate joint discomfort sensations, reduce pain, and enhance daily physical function.

The goal is to relieve symptoms and restore function and improve quality of life. The Best daily physical activities are found below, from the authors experience – these measures do work.