Introduction: What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of Arthritis and generally develops in people who are over 50 years of age. Also, it tends to be more common in women than in men. Osteoarthritis affects the joints in the human body. OsteoarthritisMost commonly affected joints are the knees, hips and small joints of the hands. Although not as common, Osteoarthritis can also affect younger people, usually as a result of joint injury or other condition affecting the joint.

Osteoarthritis plagues roughly 8 million people in the UK, and another 27 million people in the US. In the US, Osteoarthritis accounts for 25% of visits to family physicians and most anti-inflammatory drug prescriptions.

Typically, the joints affected by Osteoarthritis show the  following:

  • Damage to cartilage – (cartilage lines the bones and reduces friction, allowing the  joints to move smoothly and easily,
  • Bony growths developing around the edge of the joints (after cartilage loss the bone starts wearing down and the body creates new bone to keep up with the wear),
  • Mild inflammation of the tissues around the affected joints (synovitis).

Causes of Osteoarthritis

There are two main types of Osteoarthritis: Primary and Secondary.

Primary Osteoarthritis: is usually related to aging but not necessarily caused by it. The cause of Primary Ostheoarthritis is a degradation of the joint’s cartilage. The main chemical structure of the cartilage changes either through loss of water or from other reasons. The cartilage starts to wear down faster and the joint becomes arthritic.

Secondary Osteoarthritis: has the same symptoms as the primary, but the causes range from congenital joint misalignments, injuries, diabetes, obesity, hormonal  disorders, etc.

Although joint trauma and joint misalignments are considered to be the main causes of the disease, there are indications that suggest Osteoarthritis can be hereditary.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

  • acute sharp or burning pain in the joint and associated muscles and tendons
  • stiff joints
  • crackling noise in the joint
  • muscle spasms

Treatment of Osteoarthritis

  • Change in lifestyle such as weight loss; reducing sweets is also said to reduce inflammation
  • exercise and wearing suportive devices such as knee braces and using a cane or walker to reduce weight on the affected joint.
  • Medical treatment: icing, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and even surgery
  • Alternative treatments such as acupuncture and herbal supplements.

I’m quoting Wikipedia here:  Functional, gait, and balance training has been recommended to address impairments of proprioception, balance, and strength in individuals with lower extremity arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and Flat Feet

Flat Feet (hyperpronation, low arches) cause joint misalignments not only in the foot, but also, knees, hips and back. Misaligned joints lead to faster and uneven wear in the cartilage, causing Osteoarthritis or worsening it. Posture Control Insoles help attain a correct posture innovatively, through proprioception, so your muscles can keep your feet and body balanced. Here you can read more about my experience with the Posture Control Insoles.

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