Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by degeneration and relaxation of the joint, which causes symptoms such as swelling, joint pain and stiffness and difficulty performing movements.
It is a chronic degenerative disease, which has no cure, but can be treated with the use of medicines that relieve pain and inflammation and with daily stimulation and physiotherapy exercises that eventually control and delayed the development of the disease.
Osteoarthritis is a disease that can occur in any joint, but is more common in some joints that include:
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis include
In addition, as the disease progresses, certain deformities appear in the area of the affected joints.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis is made by the orthopedist or rheumatologist by analyzing and observing symptoms of pain, swelling, stiffness and difficulty moving the joint.
Because of these symptoms, your doctor may suspect osteoarthritis and then order an X-ray or MRI to confirm the diagnosis.
Osteoarthritis can have several causes, including
In addition, it is also important to consider the family history of osteoarthritis since this disease has a certain genetic origin, not to mention that this problem, although common to all ages, arises more easily from the age of 50 due to the body’s natural aging.
Osteoarthritis is an incurable problem, and its treatment is based on the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic remedies to reduce joint pain and inflammation and physiotherapy, exercise or hydrotherapy.
Physical therapy and exercises should be done daily to keep joints moving, strengthen and improve your movement.In addition, electrostimulation and ultrasound devices that stimulate the joint, reduce inflammation, facilitate healing and control pain may be used during physical therapy sessions.
In cases where osteoarthritis is related to overweight, the patient should also be accompanied by a nutritionist to start a diet, in case of poor posture, the physical therapist should perform general postural rehabilitation to reduce compensation and pain.generated by bad posture.
Usually these treatments are sufficient to control osteoarthritis, but in the most severe cases where there is no improvement and when pain persists the installation of a joint prosthesis may be indicated.
One of the main forms of treatment is the prevention of osteoarthritis, and for this purpose certain precautions should be taken, including:
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease and therefore there is no good prognosis for the disease, serving as treatments to relieve pain and inflammation, slow disease progression, improve movement and quality of life.