Osteoarthritis: Knee Pain Causes & Symptoms

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and is also known as degenerative joint disease. It can occur in nearly any joint in the body and is associated with a breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Most commonly, Osteoarthritis occurs in the hips, knees, and spine which are known as main weight bearing joints. It’s a condition that is ongoing, and will continue to be a thorn in your side if you don’t treat it properly.

The development of osteoarthritis starts with an initial injury to cartilage. Cartilage consists of cells called chondrocytes that sit inside a “soup”, a matrix, which consists of collagen and proteoglycans. The injury may trigger an inflammatory response leading to the synthesis of cartilage matrix degrading enzymes, produced by chondrocytes. Over time, the catabolic activities override anabolic activities and abnormal repair mechanisms lead to the formation of osteophytes, while cartilage continues to degrade.

• ACL Injury
• PCL Injury
• LCL Injury
• MCL Injury
• Torn Meniscus
• Osgood-Schlatter Disease
• Adolescent Anterior Knee Pain

The causes of osteoarthritis include previous injury to the joint, obesity as well as aging. There is only one cause of this disease that you can do anything about and that is obesity. Many people who are overweight will develop knee osteoarthritis as a symptom. This is because the excessive weight puts a strain on the cartilage in the knee and causes it to deteriorate.

Here are some cause of osteoarthritis:

• Being overweight
• The aging of joints
• Sports or accidents
• Joint injury or stress
• Hereditary tendencies
• Muscle weakness

Engaging in exercises that improve strength and flexibility is one of the surest ways to prevent the common causes of knee injuries. Some of the benefits that come with such exercises are mentioned below:

Strengthening Exercises

Strengthening exercises engage your hamstrings and quadriceps. Strengthening them will reduce stress and aid your knees in absorbing shock.

Flexibility Exercises

Flexibility exercises stretch the muscles that support your knees, while strengthening them in the process. Gentle stretches improve flexibility and reduce soreness, while vigorous stretching can cause pain and muscle tightening.

Keeping your knees healthy and preventing injury starts with developing strong and flexible supportive muscles. A qualified physician can give you a customized exercise plan as well as specific tips to help keep your knees in good condition.

Some of the common causes of knee pain often come in the form of sprains, strains, and fractures, most of which can be avoided.

To keep your knee healthy, here are a few tips:

1. Wear good shoes that provide adequate support for your arches. Ill-fitting shoes increase the incidence of pronation which puts extra stress on your knees and may eventually result in pain and even injury.
2. Carrying heavy objects puts a lot of stress on your knees; ask for help if you suspect that an object may be too heavy for one person to move.
3. It is important to maintain a healthy weight. Not only does extra weigh put a lot of stress on your knees, it also increases your risk of developing osteoarthritis.
4. Exercises like walking or swimming can strengthen your knees; however, controlling your intensity level and alternating days with other exercises is good practice to avoid hurting yourself in the process.
5. Weight training is also a good way to strengthen your knees, and there are several low impact exercise machines in the gym that will engage your knees and keep them strong, making them less prone to injury.
6. Protect your knees by wearing guards during recreational sports like soccer, and don’t forget to stretch before engaging in physical activities. Be mindful of the correct techniques and positions when exercising, and always use them.

There’s no known cure for osteoarthritis, so sufferers are generally prescribed risky, controversial painkillers that can have serious side effects. But, more and more evidence shows that making healthy lifestyle and dietary changes can both help to prevent the onset of the disease and provide long term pain relief from the symptoms of osteoarthritis. So a more holistic approach is being taken.

The key is to get healthy and fit through exercise and optimum diet and to avoid injuries and reduce stress, fatigue and depression.

The main recommendations are:

• Moderate exercise strengthens bones and muscles, improves flexibility, reduces pain and fatigue and relieves stress and depression. Walking, swimming and yoga are good ways to stay active with a minimum of stress. But don’t push too hard.
• Healthy weight maintenance keeps joints from having to support excess weight.
• Rest and relaxation relieves stress on joints and improves health.
• An optimum diet provides the nutrients necessary to prevent degenerative diseases and is essential for OA relief. Red meat, for example, can increase the risk of inflammation and arthritis. Eliminate non-nutritious foods, such as high glycemic carbohydrates, and eat a moderately low fat diet (20% to 30% of calories) rich in cold water fish, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean poultry and low fat dairy.
• Omega 3 fish oil is nature’s most potent anti-inflammatory. So increase the omega 3 fish in your diet, such as fresh salmon, and include fish oil supplements.

The treatment for osteoarthritis is primarily symptomatic. Analgesics (pain relievers), non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), weight loss, exercise, assistive devices such as wedge insoles, braces, canes, walkers, and such. Injection of glucocorticoids and viscosupplements (lubricants derived either from rooster combs or from bacteria) may also be helpful. Nevertheless, eventually patients will require surgery in the form of joint replacement.

If you’d like to know more about osteoarthritis, get in touch with the experts at Premier Clinic for safe and affordable surgery and you will soon be on your way to get the perfect joint replacement surgery. We are available from 8am to 12 midnight DAILY.

Call/Whatsapp: 012-662-5552
Email: contactus@premier-clinic.com