Symptoms of Arthrosis
Arthrosis is another name for Osteoarthritis (OA), one type of arthritis. Arthritis is an umbrella term. It’s used to describe several conditions that cause inflammation in your joints. In some cases, the inflammation can also affect your skin, muscles, and organs. Examples include osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gout.
Arthrosis, a degenerative joint disease, is the progressive loss of articular cartilage. Arthrosis can affect any joint in your body. It’s most likely to affect the joints of your hands, neck, knees, and hips. The knee is the most commonly affected joint. It mainly affects people over the age of 45. Common clinical osteoarthritis symptoms include:
- Tenderness around affected joints
- Stiffness and swelling (joint enlargement)
- Redness of the skin around affected joints
- Reduced range of motion
- Pain after prolonged sitting or resting
- Pain that is gradual in onset and worse with activity
What is the cause?
Arthrosis is caused by normal wear and tear on joints and articular cartilage. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of your bones and helps your joints move. Over time, your cartilage can deteriorate and may even disappear completely. This results in bone-to-bone contact in your joints, causing discomfort, pain, stiffness, and sometimes swelling. Discomfort peaks after a period of rest and decreases when the joints are moving. It is most common in elderly people, but it can occur at all ages. A hereditary predisposition can also play a role. In this case, it occurs at a younger age and in several joints. A congenital tilt or an accident can also be a possible cause of arthrosis.
Osteoarthritis is typically a progressive disease that may eventually lead to disability. The intensity of the symptoms may vary per individual. However, they typically become more severe, more frequent and more debilitating over time. The rate of progression also varies for each individual.
Types of Arthrosis
OA is classified as either primary or secondary, depending on its cause. Primary osteoarthritis – is articular degeneration without any apparent underlying cause. Age as a cause also falls in this category. Secondary osteoarthritis – is the consequence of either an abnormal concentration of force across the joint as with post-traumatic causes or abnormal articular cartilage, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Obesity, family history and congenital defects are examples of secondary OA.
Your treatment for Arthrosis
Osteoarthritis can be treated effectively with physiotherapy.Exercise has been proven to be effective as pain management and also improves physical functioning in the short term. Exercises have to take place under the supervision of a physiotherapist initially and when properly instructed these exercises can be performed at home
Treatment for i.e. knee osteoarthritis begins with conservative modalities and progresses to surgical treatment options when conservative physiotherapy treatment has been exhausted. These interventions do not alter the underlying disease process, but a therapist will teach you to perform exercises to help you to:
- Reduce pain
- Increase agility
- Optimise function
- Teach correct posture
- Increase strength and stability
Treatment Methods
Work with your physiotherapist to develop a treatment plan if you’re diagnosed with arthrosis or arthritis. Learn more about the condition, how to treat it, and how to keep it from getting worse. Usually you can lead a normal and healthy life with arthrosis, especially if you know how to manage it.
There is a wide range of conservative modalities available for the arthrosis treatment. Common treatment methods to reduce pain and manage osteoarthritis are:
- Physiotherapy
- Manual Therapy
- Medical Taping
- Dry Needling
- Exercise Therapy
- Home Exercise Program
- Diet and lifestyle advice (to stimulate weight loss)
Schedule an Appointment
Physiotherapy has proven to reduce pain in the long term and to prevent progression of Arthrosis. Call us today for an intake and improve the quality of life.
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