Arthritis

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Arthritis

Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. Arthritis usually involves inflammation or degeneration of the joints.

Parts of a joint:

·        Soft tissue:

Joints get cushioned and supported by soft tissues that prevent the bones from rubbing against each other.

·        Articular cartilage:

A connective tissue called articular cartilage plays a key role. It helps the joints move smoothly without friction or pain.

·        Synovial membrane:

Some joints have a synovial membrane, a padded pocket of fluid that lubricate the joints.

·        Tendons:

Many joints, such as knees, get supported by tendons and ligaments. Tendons connect muscles to bones.

·        Ligaments:

Ligaments connect bones to other bones.

Types of arthritis:

·        Osteoarthritis

·        Rheumatoid arthritis

·        Psoriatic arthritis

·        Gout.

Causes of arthritis:

·        Have a family history of arthritis.

·        Genes or family history.

·        Wear and tear of a joint from overuse.

·        Autoimmune disorders.

·        Have a job or play a sport that puts repeated stress on the joints.

·        Injuries.

·        Muscle weakness.

·        Have certain autoimmune diseases or viral infections.

·        Obesity.

Symptoms of arthritis:

·        Pain.

·        Redness.

·        Stiffness.

·        Swelling.

·        Tenderness.

·        Warmth.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis:

·        Limited range of motion that sometimes goes away after movement

·        Clicking or popping with bending

·        Muscle weakness around the joint

·        Bony growths in the fingers

·        Instability or buckling of the joint

·        Grating or scraping feeling in the knees.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis:

·        Morning stiffness that can lost 30 minutes or more

·        More than one affected joint

·        Onset in smaller joints like feet and hands

·        Same joints on both sides of the body are affected

·        Fatigue

·        Inflammation of the eyes and mouth

·        Low red blood cell count

·        Low-grade fever

·        Inflammation of the heart muscle and blood vessels.   

Detection of arthritis:

X-ray, MRI or ultrasound.

·        Bone fractures or dislocations.

·        Cartilage breakdown around the joints.

·        Muscle, ligament or tendon injuries near the joints.

·        Soft tissue inflammation.

Supplements:

·        Avocado and soybean unsaponifiable may help osteoarthritis symptoms.

·        Fish oil and turmeric supplements may help reduce inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.

However, you should talk with your doctor before taking any supplements for arthritis.

Treatment for arthritis:

·        Rest

·        Physiotherapy

·        Hot or cold compresses

·        Joint protection

·        Medications

·        Surgery to correct joint damage.

Surgical and other procedures:

1.     Cortisone injections:

·         Injections of a corticosteroid into the joint might relieve pain for a few weeks. Doctor numbs the area around the joint, then places a needle into the space within the joint and injects medication.

·         The number of cortisone injections you can receive each year is generally limited to three or four, because the medication can worsen joint damage over time.

2. Lubrication injections:

·         injections of hyaluronic acid might relieve pain by providing some cushioning in the knee, though some research suggests that these injections offer no more relief than a placebo.

·         Hyaluronic acid is similar to a component normally found in the joint fluid.

3. Realigning bones:

·         If osteoarthritis has damaged one side of the knee more than the other, an osteotomy might be helpful.

·         In a knee osteotomy, a surgeon cuts across the bone either above or below the knee, and then removes or adds a wedge of bone.

·         This shaft your body weight away from the worn-out part of the knee.

·        Fusion:

Two or more bones are permanently fused together. Fusion immobilizes a joint and reduces pain caused by movement.

·        Joint replacement:

·        A damaged, arthritic joint gets replaced with an artificial joint. Joint replacement preserves joint function and movement.

·        In joint replacement surgery, surgeon removes the damaged joint surfaces and replaces them with plastic and metal parts.

·        Artificial joints can wear out or come loose and might eventually need to be replaced.

Physiotherapy for arthritis:

Physiotherapy involving exercises that help strengthen the muscles around the affected joint is a core component of arthritis treatment.

Exercises for knee osteoarthritis:

Exercise No.1 Quad set:

·        Place a small rolled towel underneath the knee.

·        Slowly tighten the muscle on top of the thigh and push the back of the knee down into the rolled towel.

·        Hold contraction for 5 seconds and then slowly release, resting 5 seconds between each contraction.

·        Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions, 1 time daily.

No.2. Standing quadriceps stretch:

·        Stand next to a wall with the left hand on it for balance and bend the right knee to bring the foot up.

·        Reach behind with the right hand and grab the ankle. Then slowly pull the ankle up and back, away from the buttock.

·        Hold the stretch for 20 seconds twice on each side.

No. 3. Calf Stretch:

·        Stand facing the wall about two paces away and place both hands on the wall.

·        Step forward with the right foot but keep the left leg straight and extended back, with the heel on the ground.

·        Lean forward until you can feel the pull on the back of the left calf. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds three times for each leg.

·        To stretch the other main muscle in the calf, do the same stretch but bend the left knee slightly.

No. 4. Hamstring Stretch:

·        Loop a bed sheet around the right foot.

·        Use the sheet to help pull the straight leg up.

·        Hold for 20 seconds, then lower the leg.

·        Repeat twice. Then, switch legs.

No. 5. Straight leg Raise:

Build muscle strength to help support weak joints.

·        Lie on the floor, upper body supported by the elbows.

·        Bend the left knee, foot on the floor. Keep the right leg straight, toes pointed up.

·        Tighten the thigh muscles and raise the right leg.

·        Pause for 3 seconds. Keep the thigh muscles tight and slowly lower the leg to the ground. Touch and raise again.

·        Do two sets of 10 repetitions. Switch legs after each set. 

Exercises should avoid for Hip and Knee osteoarthritis:

·        Running, especially on uneven surfaces.

·        Tennis, basketball, and other activities where you change direction quickly.

·        Step aerobics and other workouts that involve jumping.

Gentle stretching exercises for Rheumatoid arthritis:

Rheumatoid arthritis may be relieved by gentle stretching that gets blood flowing and joint fluids moving.

1.     Gentle stretches for the wrist, Elbow, and Shoulder:

·        Brushing teeth, driving a car, and other everyday activities can be challenging when RA affects the wrists, elbows, or shoulders.

·        These exercises are designed to loosen up those joints and encourage better arm and wrist function.

2.     Wrist flexion and extension:

The carpal joints in the wrist are especially susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis inflammation.

·        Hold arms straight in front of you with palms facing down.

·        Make fists with the hands.

·        Flex wrists so that the fists move downward, then extend wrists so that the fists move up and back toward you.

·        Repeat 10 to 20 times.

3.     Wrist rotation:

·        Moving the fists backward and forward, rotate them in circles.

·        Alternate clockwise and counterclockwise.

4.     Forearm flip:

RA inflammation can cause the muscles and tendons in the forearms to get stiff.

·        Hold arms by the sides, with elbows bent at a 90degree angle and palms facing up.

·        Keeping elbows bent, flip the palms to face down.

·        Repeat 10 to 20 times.

5.     Biceps curls:

Bending and straightening the elbows through their full range of motion is good for joint mobility.

·        Sit or stand with arms down straight by the sides.

·        Bend at the elbow, using the biceps to bring both hands up to shoulder height.

·        Slowly return to starting position.

·        Repeat 10 to 20 times.

Others:

1.     Braces or shoe inserts:

·        Shoe inserts or other devices might help reduce pain when you stand or walk.

·        These devices can support the joint to help take pressure off it.

2. Capsaicin:

·         Topical capsaicin, a chili pepper extract, applied to the skin over an arthritic joint might help.

·         You might have to apply it three to four times a day for several weeks before you see a benefit.

·         Wash the hands well after applying capsaicin cream.