29/06/2021
ABOUT ARTHRITIS
70% of cases occur in people over the age of 65.
Osteoarthritis is a disease that results in deformation and destruction of the joint capsule. The articular surface is the cartilage that covers the joint surface and prevents the bones from touching each other: it allows free and painless movement. Osteoarthritis most often develops in old age.
It is also called "the disease of pianists and athletes," who often suffer from arthritis due to the constant load on the wrists and leg joints: hips, knees, ankles.
Osteoarthritis, unlike arthritis, affects only the joints and is not inflammatory.
Symptoms
Symptoms of arthritis appear gradually as the disease progresses. At the beginning of development there are none at all. This is the main reason for going to the doctor in the later stages.
The first symptoms of arthritis manifest themselves:
stiffness of the joint after sleeping or long rest, which quickly passes with movement;
Crunching, grinding and clicking noises, which are accompanied by a deafening sound;
Pain on movement and exertion.
In the later stages of osteoarthritis, the symptoms become more noticeable: joint stiffness and pain syndrome increase, and "hard joint" syndrome develops - the replacement of soft cartilage by bone outgrowths.
The development of a chronic form of the disease leads to the inability to move one or more joints.
Treatment and prevention
Osteoarthritis is better treated in the initial stage of the disease. Also, the chances of recovery depend on age - up to 40 years of age it is much easier to get rid of the ailment.
Under these conditions, the patient is assigned control of load on the painful joint, medication and shockwave therapy - a short-term impact on the bone and connective tissue acoustic pulses of significant amplitude of low frequency: 16 to 25 Hz. Other procedures may also be used, such as mud application, electrophoresis with medicines.
The chronic form of the disease, as well as arthritis in old age, cannot be completely cured. However, competent and regular therapy helps to control the disease as much as possible: to stop the destruction of the joint and improve the patient's quality of life.
During such therapy, the doctor prescribes medication, which activates the regeneration process, and also gives lifestyle recommendations.
Primary prevention helps prevent the development of arthritis. The basic principles are:
Weight control - excess weight increases the load on the joints;
Regular physical activity - exercises, stretching and moderate training;
choosing high-quality and comfortable footwear - improper load distribution provokes increased pressure on the joints;
strengthening immunity and protection against hypothermia.
