With Osteoarthritis, prevention is preferable to a cure. If we follow this maxim we can alleviate some of the pain and discomfort through healthy-living strategies and self-care techniques. Osteoarthritis is a degenerating disease affecting the cartilage of joints over the years. Osteoarthritis is generally an age related condition inconveniencing American men and women who are 40 years old or older. It can be genetic or caused by injury or trauma.
If Osteoarthritis runs in the family, the best preventive measure would be to follow a healthy lifestyle and a regular exercise program. This will help slow the onset of the disease by strengthening muscles around arthritic joints. Consult a doctor or work with a physical therapist to design an exercise program suited to your body weight and medical condition. Walking is the best exercise, and riding a stationary exercise bicycle or doing aquatic exercises is also helpful. Another option is tai chi for strengthening and relaxation techniques and improving balance. Exercise should be done in moderation and you should consult a doctor if you experience excessive pain.
For Osteoarthritis patients, obesity is a major cause of worry. Along with age, any excess weight puts added stress on back, hips and knee joints and makes joint surgery risky. A healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps in controlling weight and also in effective treatment of Osteoarthritis. Another way to prevent further worsening of Osteoarthritis is appropriate footwear for walking, exercising, and evening wear that will put less strain on your weight-bearing joints or back.
Osteoarthritis affects the activities of everyday life. To cope with increasing demands on the body, we need to practice relaxation techniques or yoga and meditation to develop a positive attitude. Even if you cannot prevent Osteoarthritis, it is a good idea to learn the limits of your body so that you can modify your lifestyle to avoid unnecessary pain.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Osteoarthritis
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Advancing age has its share of trails and tribulations, and a significant financial and medical concern is Osteoarthritis. Arthritis, a combination of Greek word “arthron,” for joint, and “itis,” for inflammation, is often referred to as one disease though there are more than 100 forms...
-
Knee Osteoarthritis
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, affects the elderly in parts of the body where it hurts the most. A person suffering from knee osteoarthritis will most likely equate it with cardiovascular disease because the breakdown of articular cartilage of knee joints restricts movement and the...
-
Hip Osteoarthritis
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Osteoarthritis affects a person’s joints. The parts of body at maximum risk are the hips and knees. Hips carry the body weight and, over years, the smooth and glistening articular cartilage that helps the hip joint to glide ultimately wears thin. Initially, there is discomfort...
-
Osteoarthritis Treatments
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Treating Osteoarthritis is a joint venture between the patient and their physician that takes into account the patient’s personal needs and medical condition. The conditions that could affect treatment are cardiac disease, hypertension, peptic ulcers, or renal disease. Standard treatment involves pain killers, physiotherapy, exercises,...
-
Osteoarthritis Symptoms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Osteoarthritis progresses with age and affects the area around the joints. One experiences pain, stiffness or swellings due to complete loss of cartilage cushion, extended periods of inactivity, or trauma. The pain differs in intensity from low to high, increasing in humid weather, followed by...
-
Osteoarthritis Medication
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Medicine is an important component of the treatment of Osteoarthritis. A healthy alternative is to combine over the counter pain relievers with alternate treatment and medicines prescribed by physician. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting nearly 20 million Americans. Each affected person...
-
Osteoporosis Prevention
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Osteoporosis is a disease wherein bones become fragile or porous and thus brittle, leading to easy fractures. A bone mineral density test (BMD) is the only way one can diagnose osteoporosis and thus determine any risks for future fracture. The main reason BMD has to...
-
Osteoarthritis Diet
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diet is an important ingredient in maintaining a perfect physique and disease proof body. With 70% Americans being victims of obesity, the first step in treating any disease is weight reduction. Diet control programs are based on individual preferences as certain people are allergic to...
-
Hyaluronic Acid For Osteoarthritis
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is already widely used in skin care and anti-aging treatments, and it can be used to treat osteoarthritis. Recent studies show that 80 % of patients with osteoarthritis experience relief when given HA treatment, and although some patients do not have the...
-
An Introduction To Rheumatoid Arthritis
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Rheumatoid arthritis is the second major type of arthritis – exceeded in number of cases only by osteoarthritis. It is a very serious ailment caused by inflammation of the joints. The pain associated with the disease is at times so severe that it almost completely...